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1143014

flFM'^ALOeSV COia-ECTlON

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 01208 9220

THE

DOOLITTLE FAMILY

IN AMERICA

(3PARTII.)

COMPILED BY

WILLIAM FREDERICK DOOLITTLE, M. D.

May their characters be read, their worth appreciated,
and memories richly cherished by their children's children
forever !— David Lee, Esq,

1902
PRESS OF A. J. Watt

CLEVELAND

Time is hastening on and we

What our fathers are shall be, —

Shadow-shapes of memory !

Joined to that vast multitude

Where the great are but the good,

And the mind of strength shall prove

Weaker than the heart of love.

—Whit tier.

1143014
THE DOO LITTLE FAMILY

PAR'P 1 1.

GLIMPSES OF THEIR COLONIAL LIFE.

No human being grows up who does not so intertwist in his growth
the whole idea and spirit of his day, that rightly to dissect out his history
would require one to cut to pieces and analyze society, law, religion, the
metaphysics and the morals of his times. — Harriet Beccher Stozve.

In order to catch the hidden tJwugJit of those olden days we
should turn back on the path of the years and come within the
enchanting influence of the early settlements nestling among the
Connecticut hills. We must make the acquaintance of the good
■N^ neighbors, old and young, of high and low degree, gathered about
i the great log fire blazing on the hearth of a winter's evening, and
r^' listen to the animated discussion of primitive politics, of the latest
sermon, and hear the kindly gossip of the town as well as local
legends, thrilling ghost stories, with weird accounts of haunted
I houses in the neighborhood. We should look in on merrymak-
• ings and other county frolics, and be present at weddings, at
o: funerals and the solemn services in the rude old meeting house
^ on the quiet Sabbath. The plain homespun and quaint manners
^ and customs of the village folk are not to be overlooked, and at
election and general training we must enter into the full enjoy-
ment of these gala days.
^ Or, suppose as passengers on the ancient stage coach in that

\ far away time, we are returning to spend Thanksgiving, the queen
of New England festivals, with a grandsire and granny at the old

^^

122 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

homestead. It is a few years before the Revolution ; and on this
last day of the journey, the party is aroused before dawn from
slumbers at the tavern to catch the early coach. How romantic
such a frosty star-lit morning of the late Indian summer, — the
hurried breakfast of smoking corn cake, savory bacon, the potato
roasting hot from the bed of ashes, and steaming, creamy, fra-
grant cofifee — the chill crisp morning — lanterns gliding ghost-like
in and out the large stables — drowsy horse boys just from their
snug beds shivering about the door yard — the resonant crack of
the whip, — the clear, sharp clatter of hoofs on the frozen ground
— the rattle of wheels — the scramble in the dark for seats — the
long, tedious ride with fellow travelers torpid and glum, partly
hidden by the gray of the dawn and partly in mufflers — at length
the side lights fading out with daybreak stealing over the coach
load — the gradual warmth of conversation and good nature once
more prevailing over sharp elbows and cold, numb feet shuffling
among the scanty straw.

Life is stirring at farmhouses along the way. Smoke is be-
ginning to curl from the stone chimneys into the frosty air, and
industrious farmers are caring for their stock in barns bulging
with the season's harvest. Often through open doors peer out
tiers of golden pumpkins, great pyramids of rosy apples, or huge
sloping heaps of yellow ears of corn. Later threshing or butch-
ering is in progress or loads of produce are starting for market.
Ox-teams are plodding homeward with winter wood or clearing
stone from the upland farms. Here and there the turnpike pene-
trates a belt of late autumn woodland or passes along some ridge
with enchanting view over hill and dale. The ear notes the low

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I

whistle of the quail or chatter of squirrels gathering the falling-
nuts, while high overhead is an occasional triangle of wild geese
from the northern lakes off for the southland.

Now and then a villlage is reached with its meeting house,
district school, great elms and old homes ; and about noon the
coach-load dismount from cramped quarters at some wayside inn
for dinner wih mine host ever of rotund form and genial smile,
then hurry ofif in the springless stage, rumbling on in its
winding course up and down the rough roads among the hills.
Sometimes a ford is crossed, and again all must alight to climb
a steep slope or lift the wheels from the mire. Six such days
would take the traveler from Boston to New York, and he would
rejoice if not delayed by heavy storms or deep mud.

At length the fall afternoon is closing in. The sun is
sinking in a bank of storm clouds behind the western hills. The
coach has reached the last turn in the road, and the cheery sight
of the village spire gleaming in the sunset comes into view. The
wayworn traveler joyfully hears once more the stage horn an-
nounce to the postmaster the coming mail, and bidding the land-
lord serve the evening meal ; while the good natured driver
gathers up the reins as the steaming, jaded team make the finish-
ing sweep across the tavern yard — the crowning effort to a day
of toil.

A short walk down the main street across the brook and up
the slope beyond brings us to grandfather's. It is one of those
stately old homesteads, painted red, with several gables, wings
and lean-tos — contributions of the different generations which
have made it their home. From the hillside it overlooks the mill

124 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

pond and nestles under some large protecting locust trees. A neat
stone wall extends in front and runs away, branching and inter-
secting through the farm. During their season in various nooks
of the dooryard beds of crocuses, snow-drops, hollyhocks, peonies,
lilies, pinks and roses, yellow and white, amid box and other
shrubbery, know the fostering care of grandmother. At one side
is the friendly old orchard and garden. The large barns are just
across the road and the farm lands stretch out on either side.
There, too, are the well-curb and wood-pile. The porch is built
into the house, and on the door the brass knocker — a smiling face
in bas-relief with projecting arms and hands clasped indicative
of the hospitality dwelling within. Swallows are wheeling their
fitful flight about the chimney top, and from the gathering storm
clouds flakes of snow are beginning to fall.

Grandfather and grandmother rush forth in the twilight,
with a dozen uncles, aunts and cousins who have already arrived,
and pour out a welcome which only such a company and occasion
can impart. Grandfather is tall, straight and hardy, his kindly
face smooth and ruddy, the mouth and prominent chin display
firmness and determination, the eyes are bright and thoughtful,
and snowy locks falling about his temples only add to his vener-
able appearance, in which intelligence and spirituality seem to
beam from every feature. Grandmother inherits a strong, sturdy
constitution as a daughter of the Puritans who brought to Amer-
ica the vigorous muscle, bone and life blood of the old English
yeomanry. Her home displays a high regard for order and for
the dignity of domestic duties, and her conscientious attention to
household cares has never appeared as a detraction to her high
mental qualities.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I25

It is just candle-light and the tallow dips throw out a cheery
welcome from brass candlesticks on table and shelf. The large
best room is open in honor of the occasion with its aristocratic
claw-footed furniture and neatly sanded floor. The clock ticks
lustily in its tall case and hickory logs blazing on the andirons in-
vite to the cozy seat in the chimney corner.

Space forbids details of the old-fashioned supper and the
rare sociability following it in the spacious kitchen, the living room
of early New England, during the stormy evening. Nuts are
cracked, apples are roasted on the hearth and near by stands the
generous stone pitcher of cider. Now and then some good neigh-
bor calls to join the merry gathering and renew old acquaintance
or discuss the clouds of revolution gathering in the political sky.
The old house presents a lively scene of earnest talk and hearty
laughter, for every worldly care has fled away from this Eden
before the flaming sword of the mellow firelight.

The company leaves early and at 9 o'clock the distant curfew
softly calls to cover the embers and retire. Grandfather reads
from the large family Bible, and standing in Puritan style ofifers
a simple prayer; then all join in singing a closing psalm. The
feather beds are made snug by warming pan and canopies, and
all soon fall asleep planning for the morrow and listening to the
stormy wind, which like a troop of merry goblins frisks around
the house, rattles the windows and whistles down the chimney.

At an early morning hour of Thanksgiving Day all is astir.
A foot of snow has fallen and Jack Frost has sketched on every
window-pane extravagant pictures of his palaces. Down in the
sink room the toilet is completed with well water, soft soap and

126 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

roller towel of homespun linen. Grandfather rolls in the large
back log and lays the fire, while willing hands care for the stock.
After the early breafast and family prayers, some of the cousins
hurry away to the famous attic stored with the accumulations of
generations — soldier caps, uniforms and swords, old fashioned
clothes, great chests, books, papers, bric-a-brac and what-nots.
Others build a fort in the orchard or coast on the hillside.

The jolly brick oven is quickly fired up and final prepara-
tions for the dinner are started. For a week all arrangements
have been leading to this event. The spacious kitchen has re-
sounded to the stirring, pounding and chopping and been a very
hive of industry. The merits of various receipts have been dis-
cussed, busy hands have seeded raisins, ground spices in the mor-
tar, sliced citron, pared apples, chopped mince meat, and done a
thousand things for the festival.

The men break the paths and distribute baskets of goodies
prepared by grandmother for several neighbors who have fallen
ill, while later most of the household attend Thanksgiving service.

The long looked for dinner hour at length arrives, and such
a dinner it is ! The large table, covered with spotless homespun
linen and set with ancient blue stone-china and antique silver kept
for such occasions, is something to behold. When all gather
grandfather says a simple grace. The great roast turkey richly
browned is at the head of the table with here and there oddly
shaped porringers, platters and tureens of steaming vegetables,
baked and boiled, in almost endless variety. There are pigeon
pie, corn fritters, and such pickles and jellies with marmalade
and various sauces, besides hickory nuts, cider and apples. No

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 127

Other day of the year sees as delicious custards and quince tarts,
so many kinds of cakes, such a bouncing plum pudding stirred
thick with dried fruit, or so great a number of pies, and each
proclaiming the height of grandmother's art. This Yankee im-
provement on an English dish comes to crown the festivities, and
comes in all the forms and in all the varieties which the ingen-
ious New England housewife can contrive. Here we have mince
and pumpkin and cranberry pies; the old molasses apple pie, and
those with dried peaches, plums and pears. There is squash pie,
rich currant pie, and juicy cherry pie and such bewitching custard
and pudding pies. Some have no upper crust, some are decor-
ated, most are plain, but each is acknowledged the perfection of
its kind.

What jollity and wit such a gathering inspires. All are
young again and most heartily enter the full enjoyment of the
occasion. It is the day of days. It calls back to the older ones
those happy times before the children married and went away.
None thrill with more pleasure than beams from every feature of
grandfather and grandmother who, though in the sunset of life,
with their family gathered about them, feel the old energy of
their prime.

Time flies quickly by, and the low afternoon sun is casting
long shadows when justice has been done to each and every dish,
and all have ate and talked and talked and ate until they can con-
tain no more.

With dinner over, grandfather in stately reverence arises at
the head of the table and, conforming with Puritan custom, re-
cites the mercies of God during the past year, draws lessons from
the misfortunes and touchingly refers to those who have de-

128 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

parted. Psalms of thanksgiving are sung and eventually all
closes with a prayer.

Later, before the cheery hearth the evening flits away amid
reminiscences of early times on the farm, grandfather's tales and
family traditions. Games are played, riddles guessed and songs
sung-, until early bed time comes to draw its inevitable curtain
about it all.

The old Puritan merriment was genuine and abundant.
Their wheel of life was well oiled and Yankee wit is of the first
order. Being blessed with happiness they felt less the need of
entertainment. Besides, reaching the higher ambitions in life was
in itself an amusement to such a people. However, in each com-
munity jolly companies gathered at husking bees and maple sugar
making. The village singing school was well attended. The
women found pleasure in quilting frolics, apple parings and
spinning wheel parties ; while to the men house raisings, log
rollings, with hunting and trout fishing brought enjoyment.
Election day was one of their lively times each year when the
officials took office amid public demonstrations. The minister
preached his well studied election sermon, and the housewives
strained every effort on election cake, a sort of rusk rich with
fruit and wine, sometimes from receipts handed down a hundred
years. Then the general trainings brought an all day outing
with luncheon under the trees, awakened their military spirit and
sometimes aroused their excitement with a sham battle. Christ-
mas and Easter were lightly passed over as bordering on Roman-
ism.

Their Calvinism brought strong, positive religious beliefs
and created ability for vigorous self-government. Although their

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 29

teachings regarding election, predestination, depravity, church
government, etc., were considered dry and hard, the Calvinistic
preachers were described as a jolly set, bristling with jokes and
stories. These ministers were full of interest and deserve high
admiration. They were the intellectual and aristocratic leaders
in their communities. Their example stimulated high ideals and
aspirations. Their opinions on public questions were of first im-
portance. The school came under their guardian eye. They in-
duced parents to liberally educate their sons. In frontier sections
they drew wills and deeds and even practiced medicine. Their
seclusion often encouraged literary efforts but nearly all spent a
part of their time in farming.

The Puritans attended most carefully to things of this life,
yet probably no other people were so completely influenced in
public and private policies by considerations of the world to come,
so closely were they in touch with the New Testament teachings.
Our fathers' aims were to build up a social condition in which the
advantages in life would be open to all, and where in peace they
might have every encouragement for the talents of mind and body
and be unhindered in the legitimate pursuit of fortune.

The governing of children was a subject of much consider-
ation by the colonists. They declared that the child's will should
be "broken" and held him to strictest obedience. In the presence
of adults he must be mannerly and respectful and speak only
when spoken to. They often repeated the maxim that "children
should be seen and not heard," and believed that by sparing the
rod they spoiled the child. Promising individualities were ig-
nored and they were considered only as a number of little beings

130 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

to be dressed, fed, schooled and disciplined in accord with certain
rules. Neatness, industry and efficiency were early impressed
upon them as cardinal virtues. A boy's training was thought in-
complete unless he were "bound out" to a master to learn a trade.
Besides they received board, lodging, washing and medicines and
sometimes a dozen pounds in money for tools or clothes. They
went into all sorts of business under all sorts of masters. Often
living was poor, clothing coarse and scanty and work long and
hard. Girls at home were carefully taught to knit, spin, dye,
quilt and patch, to dip candles, brew and bake, with a train of
other mysteries in household economy.

With the preaching of Rev. Jonathan Edwards certain modi-
fications were made in the doctrines of Calvin marking a notable
departure from the religious basis on which the Puritan fathers
had placed New England. Among its results was the noticeable
change in attitude of the young people toward theology. The old
dictum that "the seed of the Church are born holy" had spread a
loving spirit of hope over sunny infancy and childhood, and the
youth grew up in close sympathy with the religious views of their
parents. They were thus considered members of the church and
expected to show becoming conduct, besides an early public pro-
fession confirming the action of their parents in their infant
baptism. But after Edwards it was held that all young people
were lost until converted. Now, the childish mind was taught
that each thought and deed of its life was only evil until it re-
pented for sin. Though the offender was an innocent Puritan
maiden having an exacting conscience, loving absolute right and
seeking the Divine will, yet she was classed, under the new views,
as utterly lacking in moral excellence in God's sight while with-

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I3I

out a certain emotional experience of conversion. Under such
teachings, it is said, an air of indifference and even hatred
toward religion crept into the young mind of New England.

Love for liberal education was widespread. As early as 1650
Conn, provided that every township of 50 households must sustain
an elementary school for reading and writing, and every one of
100 must have a grammar school which prepared boys for college,
for the planters themselves had received in many cases the best
training of the Old World. It is interesting that corporal pun-
ishment was largely replaced in colonial schools by the moral and
intellectual influence of the schoolmaster.

Under the circumstances many originalities in character ap-
peared among them. It is said that just previous to the Revolu-
tion New England contained the purest Anglo-Saxon blood in
existence. These sturdy sons and daughters of the Puritans were
shrewd, toil hardened and vigorous, and descended from a full-
blooded stock who displayed their energy and tenacity in seeking
out bleak New England and subduing its rugged wilds. They
lived secluded, thoughtful lives without the multitude of detrac-
tions— railroads, telegraph, telephone, mails, magazines, daily pa-
pers and a host of engaging books — which overwhelm us. Public
opinion, the tendencies of successive generations and undeveloped
resources bred frugality. Dressing was neat but usually very
plain — the clothes being home spun, home dyed and home made.

Their keen intellectual activity impressed its character on our
religion, literature, laws and politics as well as social and educa-
tional tendencies ; and their villages of colonial homes with church,
school house and tavern were true democracies — the first rays of
the rising sun of our grand Republic.

132 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

FOURTH GENERATION.

All that is purest and best in man is but the echo of a mother's bene-
diction; the hero's deeds are a mother's prayers fulfilled. — F. W. Morton.

88.

Susannah Doolittle(John, Abraham, Abraham) dau. of John
and Mary (Fredericks) D. of W. was b. Feb. 24, 1706. A young
woman in those days Hved in the world of taste and thought.
Her love of the beautiful was fed by the simple delights of nature.
S'he was most devout, and energetically took up the family tra-
ditions and teachings from her parents. She delighted in her
household accomplishments and looked forward to wedded life
without the modern burden of care. Early marriages were the
rule and were treated as very simple and natural afifairs. In the
17th century a bachelor over 21 or a maid of more than 20 years
was a rarity in New England. Though the Puritan wooing was
shy, almost sombre, yet as husband and wife they settled down to
a home-life of rare happiness.

Susannah was m. June 4, 1727, to Isaiah Tuttle, s. of Simon
and Elizabeth (Abernathy) T. (15) b. July 10, 1704. He was
ensign 1737; Justice of the Peace; Deacon in Congregational
Church in North Haven 35 years. Susannah d. Mar. 6, 1760, a.

55. He m. (2) Deborah ; and d. Sept. 11, 1776, a. 72;

inv. £440.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 33

CHILDREN.

329. i. Jonathan Tuttle b. May 19, 1728; set. in s. w. comer

of town of W. near foot of the Bkie Hills. The
place is still known as Tuttle's Farms. He d. May
29, 1793, a. 65; m. Feb. 6, 1754, Hannah Barnes, who
d. Nov. 26, 1831, a. 98. Ch.: Rebecca, Isaiah, Han-
nah, Sarah, David J., Samuel, Polly.

330. ii. Theophilus Tuttle b. Mar. 4, 1729, d. at W. 1787.

331. iii. Isaiah Tuttle b. Feb. 6, 1731 ; d. y.

332. iv. David Tuttle b. Jan. 31, 1734; d. Sept. 16, 1764.

333. v. Elizabeth Tuttle b. June 17, 1736; m. Titus (s. of

Benj.) Todd.

He was b. July 16, 1730; d. 1805; was a deacon
of the North Haven church; prob. m. (2) Esther
Barnes and had 6 ch. Ch. of Elizabeth: Benja-
min, Ichabod, Theophilus, Maria.

334. vi. Sarah Tuttle b. July 13, 1738; d. Apr. 21, 1760, unm.

335. vii. Isaiah Tuttle b. Nov. 29, 1742; d. y.

336. viii. Solomon Tuttle b. Aug. 20, 1746; d. Apr. 22, 1828. a.

82; m. Eunice (dau. of Simon) Tuttle b. 1751 ; d.
1838, a. 87. They res. in North Haven. He was
Dea. in Cong. chh. 48 yeirs. The following appears
on his gravestone : "To a disposition naturally
kind and affectionate was superadded Christian
meekness. Like the beloved disciple, Christian love
formed the chief trait of his character. An affec-
tionate husband and indulgent parent, his virtues
are engraven on the memories of his survivors."
Ch. : David, Elizabeth, Zerniah, Elizabeth 2d, Zer-
niah 2d, Lucretia, Solomon, Sally and Salah
(twins), Theophilus. [All but one reached adult
age.]

88

John Doolittle (John, Abraham, Abraham) s. of John and
Mary (Fredericks) D. was b. at W. Feb. 6, 1712, m. Hannah
Royce Oct. 17, 1737. Articles of food were abundant and low in
price, prob. from a scarcity of money. In 1740 a traveler in New
England wrote that the markets had many kinds of meat and very
cheap; fine fresh 10 lb. cod brought only 2 pence each, and 15 lb.
salmon a shilling; the best beef, mutton, lamb and veal came at

134 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

l-2d sterling; 2s paid for a turkey and lod a goose; wild pigeons
were 10-20 pence a dozen. Venison was plentiful and fine
haunches were half a crown each. Splendid butter was 2 pence a
pound. All of which were much below the London prices. A
little earlier a list of household fare included ; boiled pork, bacon,
vension, pigeons, roasts of beef, lamb, turkey, fowls, salmon, pork
and beans, oysters, fish, legs of pork, bread and butter; mince
pie, apple pie, tarts, ginger bread, honey, cream, sage, cheese,
green peas, barley, yokhegg [Indian corn parched and pounded]
in milk, apples, quinces, strawberries, cherries and raspberries ;
chocolate, oranges and figs.

The first settlers had beans, peas, turnips, parsnips, carrots
and cucumbers and a dozen fruits and berries. Potatoes were not
in general use in early years. Pumpkins were dried and made
into sauce and even bread as well as famous pies from long and
highly flavored receipts. Cranberries were plentiful. Samp was
like hominy, and jonnie cake [or journey cake] was made from
maize. Squashes as well as pumpkins were from the Indians,
who also taught the Colonists to plant, cultivate, harvest, grind
and cook the Indian corn. Hasty pudding, succotash, hominy, hoe
cake and roasted ears of green corn were Indian receipts.

John and Hannah settled in W. where he d. in Nov., 1747.
Hannah was appt. admrx. of his est. and guardian of Titus, Mar-
gery, Eunice and Hannah. Solomon Royce was made guardian
of Philemon. Wid. Hannah m. 2] Nov. i, 1748, Samuel Moss.

337.
338.
339
340
341

CHILDREN.

Philemon b. Sept. i, 1738.

Margery b. Feb. 25, 1740; m. Nathaniel Hall.

Eunice b. Jan 30, 1742.

Hannah b. May 12, 1744; m. Zophar Tuttle.

Titus b. June 12, 1746.

The DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I 35

91.

Phebe Doolittle (John, Abraham, Abraham) dau. of John
and Mary (Fredericks) D. was b. at W. Nov. 26, 1713. She m.
Isaiah Moss Apr. 11, 1738, s. of Israel and Lydia Moss. One
record says Phebe's est. was div. in 1747 among bros. and sis.,
another that she d. May 10, 1758. Isaiah may have m. a second
time and had a s. Linus b. Mar. 2, 1761.

CHILDREN.

342. i. Phebe Moss b. June 3, 1739.

343. ii. Hezekiah Moss b. Jan. 20, 1741 ; d. July 10, 1742.
344.. iii. Mehitable Moss b. Nov. 15, 1743.

345. iv. Hezekiah Moss b. Nov. 3, 1746.

346. V. Phebe Mossi (?) b. Aug. 18, 1752.

93.
Obed Doolittle (John, Abraham, Abraham) s. of John and
Mary (Fredericks) D. was b. at W. Oct. 2, 1717. He res. near
W. and d. Nov. 4, 1746 a. 29. [after carefully considering much
information bearing on the subject I believe he left at least two
sons — Obed and possibly Samuel.]

CHILDREN.

347. i. Obed b. about 1740.

348. ii. Samuel.

[Both took the oath of Fidelity and Freeman's
oath at Cheshire town hall in 1777.]

99.

Hezekiah Doolittle (Abraham, Abraham, Abraham) s. of
Abraham and Mary (Lewis) D. of Cheshire Parish, Wallingford,

136

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

was a twin with Josiah, b. May 25, 171 1. He m. Feb. 13, 1734
Hepzibah Tyler. They res. at W. till about 1750 when they rem.
to Litchfield Ct. where he lived to a good old age, dying in 1785.
He made his will Oct. 22, 1785. It gives to "Hepzibah my well
beloved v/f. one-half of my house and barn and one-third of the
improvements of all my lands, together with my moveable est.
with all my household furniture and farming utensils." This will
is owned by his great grandson Orrin Doolittle of Windham, N.
Y., who also has several deeds given to Hezekiah. The latter
used the spelling Doolitell, and the descendants of his s. Frederick
still write it thus. The above will also mentions the ch. of sons
Barnabas and Hezekiah. Son Frederick was given "one-third
part of the est. which fell to me from my honored father." Son
Benjamin rec'd another third of this est. Children of dau.
Mehitable Kilborn are mentioned also daus., Bethiah Cain and
Phebe Smedly. Wf. Hepzibah and s. Frederick excrs.

CHILDREN.

349

I.

350

ii.

351

iii.

352

iv.

353

V.

354

vi.

355

vii.

356

viii

357

ix.

358

X.

359

xi.

Barnabas b. Jan. 8, 1736; m. and raised a family.

Mehitable b. Feb. 28, 1738; m. Isaac Kilborn.

Hepzibah b. Aug. 14, 1740.

Hezekiah b. May 4, 1742; m. and raised a family.

Anthony b. Jan. 31, 1744.

Bethiah b. Aug. 17, 1746, m. (i) Jonathan Smith.

William b. June 6, 1748.

Mary b. Feb. 25, 1750.

Frederick b. 1752.

Benjamin sett, in Delaware Co., N. Y.

Phebe m. Smedley; was living 1785.

Ambrose Doolittle (Abraham, Abraham, Abraham) s. of

OLD
BROSE DOOL

lOMESTEAD OF

•TLE 1102* CHESHIRE. C T.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 37

Abraham and Mary (Lewis) D. was b. at Cheshire Nov. 23, 1719.
He m. Martha, dau. of Wm. and Rebecca Mimson of C, b. Apr.
2, 1729. They res. at C. till his death. Their house (a picture
of which is here given) was at a later period the home of Willard
Stevens, who carried on the blacksmith business at the forks of the
road running north.

There were then two types of dwellings, the "square" house
and the "lean-to." Colonial houses were painted red and had no
blinds, as these did not come into use until the first quarter of last
century. Solemnly they faced the storms and held back the en-
croachments of a rigorous climate — their owner's greatest ene-
mies, and turned inward their smiles beaming with all those
charms which cling to that enchanting word, home ! Raspberries
and currant bushes usually grew about the windows, and apples
and pears near by. The house-doors were unlocked and often
open in early times, so that chirp of cricket, call of whipporwill
or croak of frog lulled the household to repose. But few of those
old homesteads remain and date so far back that their original
owners are nearly forgotten.

In 1776 Ambrose and his bro. Abraham were privates in
Capt. Bunnell's comp. of Conn. State troops from W. in the Revol.
(see close of 106). Ambrose d. Sept. 25, 1793, a. 74, and is
buried at C. He was mentioned in the will of his bro. Charles,
who died in 1784.

CHILDREN.

360. i. Ambrose b. Dec. 27, 1751.

361. ii. Amos b. May 8, 1754.

362.

iii.

363.

iv.

364.

V.

365.

vi.

366.

vii.

36?.

viii.

368.

ix.

369.

X.

3/0.

xi.

371.

xii.

Z12.

xiii

[38 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

Mratha b. Aug. 30, 1756.

Eunice b. June 21, 1758; m. Joseph Morgan.

Abner b. July 27, 1760.

Samuel, twin, b. Mar. 28, 1763.

Silas, twin.

Reuben, b. May i, 1766.

Loly b. June 9, 1769; prob. m. Rufus Hotchkiss at C.

Dec. 27, 1792.
Mary Ann b. Feb. 23, 1771 ; d. Apr. i sm. yr.
Eliakim b. Aug. 29, 1772.
Lois.
Thankful m. Capt. Solomon Doolittle (311)-

103.

Charles Doolittle (Abraham, Abraham, Abraham) s. of
Abraham and Mary (Lewis) D. was b. at C. He was a grantee
at Bennington, \\.., in Jan. 1749. His will dated, Mar., 1784,
gives "to my beloved brothers Ambrose and Abraham both of
Cheshire" and Ambrose's sons, Ambrose, Amos, Abner, Samuel,
Silas, Reubin and Eliakim. Charles d. at C. in 1784.

104.

Zebulon Doolittle (Abraham, Abraham, Abraham) was s. of
Abraham and Mary (Lewis) D. of C. He m. Mary Johnson
July 19. 1744. They res. in that part of W. called New Cheshire
Parish. Neighborliness was next to religion with those early
folks and was seen in all details of daily life from visiting and
watching with the sick, helping with the harvest to house-raising.
The eminent and lowly were equally ready to lend a helping hand.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 39

CHILDREN.

373. i. Sarah b. Apr. 7, 1745.

374. ii. John b. May 24, 1748.

375. iii. May b. June i, I75i-

106.

Lleut.AbrahamDoolittle (Abraham, Abraham, Abraham) s.
of Abraham and Mary (Lewis) D., was b. at C. Aug. 29, 1728.

He m. Sarah , and was a popular inn-keeper at W. during

the French war. His house was the most noted tavern on the
main road between Boston and New York. It was removed from
its old site to the south corner opposite the Congregational church
by Eben Smith, who occupied it as a hotel for several years. It
was still in existence a few years since.

The colonial tavern of long ago stands as an enchanted spot
and is clothed in a haze of romance and good cheer. It was the
point toward which everything focused and was the scene of all
sorts of social gatherings and merrymakings : weddings, dinners,
balls, militia musters, auctions, elections — all centered there with
their respective crowds. Dickens says of them : "Great, rambling,
queer old places they were with galleries and passages and stair
cases wide enough and antiquated enough to furnish material for
a hundred ghost stories."

The great room at one of these public houses was the most
important part of the establishment and nearly an entire side of
it was taken up by the large fireplace. Here big cordwood logs
burned in winter, but in summer it was decorated with evergreens.
The room had a low ceiling with great beams, and the oaken floor
was kept scrubbed and sanded.

I40 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

Nearly all the old taverns took some part in the Revolution.
It was here the nigged sons enlisted. Here was said adieu and
God-speed to father and son, husband and sweetheart who
marched for the front. Here the townsfolk gathered to take
public action and arrange to forward supplies or provide for the
families of those in the field. Here was received the first news
of victory and defeat, and at length when peace and independence
were secured the tavern walls rang with the shouts of triumph,
and the homecoming heroes were feasted in the very room where
they had enlisted and planned the foundation of our liberties.

Militia musters and general "trainin's" were red letter days
in the old tavern's history. Then resources of bar and kitchen were
heavily drawn upon. Though liquor flowed freely, drunkenness
was rare. Cider was the most common drink, but French brandy,
slings, punch, rum, ale, toddy, beer, porter, flip, mead, sack, Ma-
deira, port, sherry and claret were popular and sold by gill, "nip,"
bowl or glass. Cider was very plentiful and could be bought at
3s-6s a barrel. In 1671 there were 500 hogsheads of it made from
one orchard. Many families each year stored away an extra cask
of cider for tramp Indians.

Winter evenings brought to the inn sleighing parties of stal-
wart, ruddy youths and red-cheeked, bright-eyed maidens who
danced to the music of flute, viol or spinet. Though the minuet
was the most graceful, the hornpipe, jig and old time contra
dances were entered into more enthusiastically. Here the first
gentleman was "to foot it to the second lady and both turn single"
and the "first three couples laze, then lead down in the middle and
back again," when "the first couple three hands round with the

I

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I4I

second lady, allemande; three hands round with the second gen-
tleman, allemande again ; lead down two couples, up again, cast
off one couple, hands round with the third, right hand and left."
Followed at an early hour with supper and a jolly homeward ride,
it formed fond memories vividly recalled in after years.

The tavern keeper was as picturesque a personage as appeared
in colonial days. He ever held office and was a prominent char-
acter in local affairs. He was an authority on all public and pri-
vate matters, as all news and gossip was discussed around his
blazing fire in winter or under his trees or on his shady porch in
summer. Public questions, trade, theology, science, crops, politics,
scandal, local gossip and siftings of private character were well
mixed into the enticing drafts of colonial times. He was usually
good natured, fat, obliging and thrifty, was ever prepared to as-
sume the varied positions to which he was so often called on short
notice, from collector of taxes, ferryman, schoolmaster, surveyor,
leader of church singing or head of the train band, to member of
town council, representative in the legislature and solemn judge
of the local court. Contact with people brought him tact, exper-
ience and sharp wits. He could tell of the most thrilling adven-
tures and ever came out first in an argument, trade or joke.

John Dunton, writing in those days, describes the tavern
hostess as "of a middle size, her face round and pretty, her speech
and behavior gentle and courteous. She is all obedience; the
hyacinth follows not the sun more willingly than she her hus-
band's pleasure. Her household is her charge; her only pride is
to be neat and cleanly. She is both wise and religious, and in a
word, whatsoever men may talk of magick, there none charms like
her."

142 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

The good old days of the stage tavern, the mail coach and its
popular, talkative, good-natured driver are to this generation
things of the shadowy past. Never again about its hospitable
hearth shall gather that company of whips for a parting pipe when
guests are dreaming, night coaches in, horses comfortably stalled
and smoldering embers in its ample fireplace give a fitful, ruddy
light. There in their quaint old chairs with whiffs of smoke curl-
ing about their cheerful, weather-beaten faces — heavy wet boots
steaming on the hearth — they chat by turns, stir the fire, laugh at
the storm and call up some witty experience or reminiscence of
the route. But the onward rush of the locomotive has changed it
all, and the curtain has been rung down on the scene for ever.

The following anecdote is told of Landlord Doolittle. Lord
Loudon, while on his way to Canada in the time of the old French
war, put up at Doolittle's house with his coach and four splendid
horses. It is said the host was much in the habit of using large
words out of their appropriate place and meaning. On this oc-
casion he felt a special call for them. In the morning he care-
fully looked at the fine blooded team in the presence of his titled
guest, and on each of the horses employed every superlative of a
considerable character until he came to the fourth animal. "What
do you think of that one?" asked his lordship. "It is a precarious
good horse," replied the landlord. This word precarious stuck to
Mr. Doolittle as long as he lived.

Some of the early laws governing taverns said that no minor,
apprentice, or servant could have drink at the inn, and prohibited
social gatherings there on the day before and following the Lord's
Day and fast days. Further, no one could remain after 9 p. m.,
and tavern haunters' names were posted so they could not receive
liquor.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I43

Abraham and s, Isaac were in the Continental army in 1775
under Capt. Jas. Arnold and were honorably disc, in the Northern
Dept. Nov. 25 and Dec. 7, 1775, respectively. It was Co. G of
1st reg't under Gen. Wooster. Reg't was raised on first call of
legislature for troops Apr.-May, '75 ; marched by request of Con-
tinental Congress to N. Y. City in June and encamped at Harlem.
In Sept. under orders from Congress the reg't marched to North-
ern Dept. and under Gen. Schuyler took part in operations along
Lakes George and Champlain ; assisted in reduction of St. Johns
in Oct. Later stationed at Montreal. Adopted as Continental.
As much sickness prevailed many soldiers were furloughed or
mustered out in Oct. and Nov. and remainder reorganized.

Abraham enlisted in Capt. Bunnell's comp. in '76. It was
7th Co. of Col. Douglass' reg't in Wadsworth's brigade. He was
prob. then residing at Cheshire. These troops were raised in
June, '76, to reinforce Washington in N. Y. ; were on right of
line of works during battle of Long Island Aug. 27th' and in the
retreat to N. Y. Aug. 29-30. Took part when N. Y. was attacked
Sept. 15th.; at battle of White Plains Oct. 28. Term expired
Dec. 25, '76. His death was before 1777 although he was men-
tioned in the will of his bro. Charles who d. in 1784.

CHILDREN.

376. i. Barnabas b. July 15, 1752.
Z^^. ii. Isaac b. July 25, 1755.

378. iii. John b. Oct. 21, 1761 ; owned lands in C. in 1777; was
living in 1805.

108.

Annie Doolittle (Thomas, Abraham, Abraham), dau. of

144 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

Thomas and Sarah (Abernathy) D., was b. at W. Dec. 20, 1730.
She m. Ebenezer, poss. b. July 6, 1737, s. of Ebenezer and Lydia
(Barnes) Parker and set. at W. She named her 3d child after
her sis. Jemima Doolittle, who had recently d. The clothes of
these baby Puritans were extremely simple. The little shirt of
linen was short sleeved with tiny rows of hemstitching and drawn
work; the gowns shapeless like sacks of linen embroidered by
hand and puckered into shape by linen bobbin. They wore caps
at all seasons and had little linen mittens. The cradle was hooded.
Baby was carried upstairs when first moved with gold or silver in
its hands to bring wealth and cause him to rise in the world, and
scarlet was put on its head as a charm to protect from harm.
Worms, rickets and fits were common troubles of babyhood, but
the rigorous climate was chief cause of an appalling infantile mor-
tality.

CHILDREN.

379. i. Ebenezer Parker b. July 4, 1762, d. y.

380. ii. Jabez Parker b. July 18, 1763.

381. iii. Jemima Doolittle Parker b. Nov. 16, 1764.

382. iv. Thomas Parker b. May i, 1767.

383. V. Ebenezer Parker b. May 7, 1771.

112.

Thomas Doolittle (Thomas, Abraham, Abraham), s. of
Thomas and Sarah (Abernathy) D., of W., where he was b. Mar.
5, 1736. He m. Sarah, dau. of Joshua Gitteau, of Bethlehem,
whose two sons were physicians of note in northern Conn.
Thomas and Sarah set. in Bethlehem where their old homestead

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I45

is still to be seen (1902) near the house built and occupied by his
s. Ephraim and the dwelling of his gr. s. David E. Sarah d. in
1796 and her gravestone is standing in the old cemetery at Bethle-
hem. Thomas Doolittle signed the following agreement July 18,
1776: "We, the householders of Bethlehem, do volunteer and
engage to equip ourselves for the defense of our rights."

CHILDREN

384.

i.

Thomas.

38s.

ii.

Abner b. June 19, 1765.

386.

iii.

Ephraim b. Mar. 12, 1768.

387.

iv.

David.

388.

V.

Wait.

"3-

Mary Doolittle (Samuel, John, Abraham), dau. of Samuel

and Mahettable ( ) D., of W., was b. June 16, 1712. She

and John Tyler were m. Nov. 9, 1741. He was s. of John and
Abigail (Hall) T., of W., b. Jan. 14, 1710; m. i] Phebe Beach
1 73 1 and had 4 ch. He was a descendant of Wm. Tyler who
came from Devonshire, Eng.

CHILDREN.

389. i. John Tyler b. Aug. 15, 1742; grad. at Yale College

1765 ; was ordained by the Bishop of London in 1768
and became an Episcopal minister. He entered
upon his duties as pastor of Christ Church, Nor-
wich, Ct., in 1769. His death occurred Jan. 20, 1823,
after a pastorate of 54 years. He m. May 6, 1770,
Hannah (dau. of Isaac) Tracy, who d. 1826. Ch. :
Hannah, John, Samuel, Mary, Eunice, Elizabeth,
John 2d, Zerviah, Harriet.

390. ii. Phebe Tyler b. "Thanksgiving Day," Nov. 10, 1743;

m. Ephraim Cook of W. b. 1744. She <L Nov. 26.
1816.

I46 THE DOOLlTTLE FAMlLV.

114.

MindwellDoolittle (Samuel, John, Abraham), dau. of Sam-
uel and Mahettable ( ) D., of W., was b. June 11, 1715.

She m. David (Daniel?) Moss, of W. He was b. Oct. 28, 1717,
s. of Solomon and Ruth (Peck) M, They prob. set. at W. These
women and their daughters delighted in embroidery. In summer
they took pleasure in caring for their pretty old fashioned flowers,
but in the long winter evenings they were fond of spinning before
the large kitchen hearth, while the men made brooms, told stories,
and all joined in cracking nuts, roasting apples and drinking cider.

CHILDREN.

391. i. Chloe Moss b. Dec. 6, 1739.

392. ii. Simeon Moss b. Oct. 16, 1740.

393. iii. David Moss b. Sept. 30, 1742.

115-

Phineas Doolittle (Samuel, John, Abraham), s. of Samuel

and Mehettable ( ) D., of W., where he m. Elizabeth

Bassit May 21, 1740. They res. at East Haven, Conn. He was a
ship carpenter and sailor. In the French and Indian war he was
captured and held prisoner 3 years by the French.

CHILDREN.

394. i. Mehettable (poss.), who m. Abraham Norton in 1766

at Watertown, Ct. He was of Guilford and Wol-
cott, Ct., b. 1742, s. of John and Mary (Groton) N.
He and Mehettable had 4 sons and 9 daus.

395. ii. Eunice (poss.), who m. Amos Fenn in 1766 at Water-

town.

THE DOOLItTLE FAMILY. 1 47

396. iii. Esther (poss.), who m. Jacob Foote in 1766 at Water-

town.

397. iv. EHzabeth (poss.), who m. Obed Williams in 1776 at

Watertown.

398. V. Abel sett, in Windsor, N. Y., (prob. b. at Watertown

Dec. 2, 1757).

116.

Samuel Doolittle (Samuel, John, Abraham), s. of Samuel
and Mary (Hitchcock?) D., was b. at W. Dec. 9, 1721. He m.
Dec. 9, 1747, Eunice Merriman. They set. at W. It is prob. he d.
May 14, 1749, although his name was mentioned in connection
with the sale of his father's homestead in Nov. of that year.
Sometimes the church bell was tolled at sunset or sunrise if a
death had occurred during the past 12 hours. Neighbors watched
with the sick and laid out the dead. Funeral rings and gloves
were often given in some parts of New England by the family of
the deceased to their friends.

Eunice may have m. 2] Mar, 25, 1754, Ephraim Preston, of
W. He was s. of Lt. Ephraim and Rebecca P. and m. 2] Esther

CHILD.
399. Samuel b. Apr. 11, 1749.

117.

Abel Doolittle (Samuel, John, Abraham), s. of Samuel and
Mary (Hitchcock?) D. b. at W. May 5, 1724. He m. Thankful
Moss and set. in Watertown, Conn. She was dau. of John Moss,
of Wallingford. The marriage was at Meriden Mar. 19, 1744-5.

148 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

Abel was then of Westbury. He d. at Watertown of smallpox
Dec. 24, 1764, and his gravestone is standing in the cemetery
there. Thankful prob. d. of same disease. It is interesting that
in those days "classes" were formed of those who beHeved in ex-
posing themselves to this infection and then being isolated together
and treated, in order to be free in future from those alarming
ravages of this scourge, which under vaccination and careful san-
itary laws we know little of. They had 3 s. and 7 dau. Most of
the daus. lived and d. in Conn. Mary, mother of Abel, d. at
Watertown Dec. 20, 1760.

CHILDREN.

Harley.

Mary b. Jan. 28, 1746-7; m. Jonathan Scott.

Thankful b. June 15, 1748 (Watertown record says

June I, 1749) ; m. Lot Osborn.
John b. Feb. 11, 1751. (Watertown record says Jan. 31,

1750-)
Jerusha b. Dec. 13, 1752; m. Robert McEwen.
Milicent b. Jan. 22, 1755; m. Samuel Beardslee.
dau. d. in Conn,
dau. d. in Conn.

Abi (dau.) b. Mar. 9, 1760; d. in Conn.
Uri b. Sept. 13, 1762.

118.

MahittableDooIittIe( Samuel, John, Abraham), dau. of Sam-
uel and Mary (Hitchcock?) D., was b. at W. Sept. 28, 1726. She
m. at Waterbury Jan. 29, 1746, Capt. Michael, s. of Isaac and
Elizabeth (Todd) Dayton (74), b. June 4, 1722. He was capt. of
militia and served in the Revol. army where he was taken ill ; re-
turned home to Watertown and d. Sept. 22, 1776, leaving con-

400.

I.

401.

ii.

402.

ill.

403.

iv.

404.

V.

405-

vi.

406.

vii.

407.

viii

408.

ix.

409.

X.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 49

siderable est. Some of their sons served in the Revol. war.
Mahittable d. July 9, 1813, a. 87. Michael was bro. of Elizabeth
Dayton (74). He was one of the founders of the Congregational
church in Westbury, Ct.

1143014

CHILDREN.

410. i. Charles Dayton b. Nov. 3, 1747; d. June 22, 1834, a. 87;

was a farmer ; Dea. of church at Watertown, Ct., m.
(i) Sept. 30, 1773, a dau. of Daniel and Hannah
(Judd) Guernsey, b. 1756, d. 1788. He m. (2)
EHzabeth Semon, of Washington, Ct. Ch. : Phey-
mest, Charles, Mary, Roxana, Chancey, Matthew,
John G., Asenath.

411. ii. David Dayton b. July 23, 1749.

412. iii. Miriam Dayton b. Jan. 26, 1751; m. Munson, of

W.

413. iv. Michael Dayton b. Sept. 11, 1752; d. 1805. He m. Abi-

gail (dau. of Timothy and Sarah [Guernsey]) Foot,
b. 1764. They res. at Waterbury. Ch. : Charles,
David.

414. V. Justus Dayton b. June 30, 1754; Capt. in Revol., d.

abt. 1825; m. 1777 Hannah Titus who d. 1835. Ch. :
Spencer, Russell, Rhoda, Jonah, Mehitable, Buelah,
Henry, Justus, Chester, Archibald, Elizabeth.
415.. vi. Mehittable Dayton b. Sept. 11, 1756, m. 1780, Sam. Sey-
mour, res. in Watertown, Ct. Ch. : Samuel, James
H., Truman.
416. vii. Loly Dayton b. Mar. 21, 1758, d. Jan. 30, 1830, m.
Amos Titus.

Elizabeth Dayton b. Sept. 16, 1759, m. Amasa Mattoon.

Isaac Dayton b. May 30, 1761, rem. to Harpersfield, N.
Y.; d. 1812.

Samuel Dayton b. Sept. 27, 1762.

Lyman Dayton b. Aug. 27, 1764, m. ; Ch. : Isaac, Sam-
uel.

Abel Dayton b. Feb. 28, 1766.

Olive Dayton, m. Munson.

119.
Benjamin Doolittle (Samuel, John, Abraham), s. of Samuel

417.

vni.

418.

ix.

419.

X.

420.

xi.

421.

xii.

422.

xiii.

150 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

and Mary (Hitchcock?) D., of W., was b. Jan. 17, 1730. He m.
July 7, 1752, Elizabeth Doolittle (62), and set. in W. At the out-
break of the Revolution he took his own oxen and cart and hauled
shot and shell in the Continental army, serving from Bunker Hill
to Yorktown and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. In
the dark days of the Revol. the good housewife often carried on
the farm work while her husband and sons were in camp. She
would care for the stock, attend to the planting, and gather the
crops in the autumn. These women had the energy of men as-
sociated with the gentleness of women. Benj. d. Sept. 22, 1782.
He owned lands near Muddy river in W. His est. was distributed
about 1783 to his wid. Elizabeth and 5 ch. He res. at W. in 1752
and conveyed 58 a. in Waterbury to Caleb Munson for £700. Will
of Elizabeth Doolittle late of W. (wid. of Benj.) was probated
1814 by s. Samuel. It gives to dau. Sarah and grandson Anson.
But Sarah had recently d. and her will was presented at same
time by bro. Samuel who was appt. sole exec. It names bro. Sam-
uel, sis. Elizabeth wf. of Johnson Doolittle (699) and nephew
Anson Doolittle (s. of 426).

CHILDREN.

423. i. Benjamin b. July 15, 1753.

424. ii. Sarah b. Feb. 21, 1756; her will probated at W. in

Apr., 1814.

425. ill. Charles b. about 1758; m. Abigail Howd at Branford,

Ct., Feb. 18, 1787, by Rev. Jason Atwater. Chas.
served in the Revol. and was a pensioner in 1832 in
New Haven Co., Ct. His wf. d. Nov. 27, 1818, a. abt.
60, and is buried at W. He d. June 8, 1838 a. 80;
buried at W.

426. iv. Samuel b. about 1760.

427. v. Elizabeth b. abt. 1763, m. Johnson Doolittle (699).

428.

429.

ii.

430.

iii.

431.

iv.

432.

V.

433-

vi.

434-

vii.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 15I

130.

Lydia DoolitUe (Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham), dau. of
Rev. Benjamin and Lydia (Todd) D., of Northfield, Mass., where
she was b. Aug. 24, 1720. She m. John, s. of Peter and Mary
(Allen) Evans, of N. He was b. Dec. 2, 171 1, at Deerfield,
Mass., was lieut., Hinsdale, 1753; d. Feb. 23, 1781. Lydia d. Apr.
2, 1806, a. 85.

CHILDREN.

Asher Evans, major; at Rockingham, Vt., 1779.

Ethin Evans.

Ore Evans.

Zeri Evans, of Hartford, Vt., 1786.

Asa Evans, of Hartford, Vt., 1786.

Henry Evans, set. in Guilford, Vt.

Eldad Evans twin b. Apr. 27, 1749 ; m. Betsey , set.

in Hinsdale.

435. viii. Mindwell Evans twin.

436. ix. Medad Evans b. 1750; m. Mary , who d. 1833 a. 83.

He d. 1833.

437. X. Lydia Evans bapt. 1751 ; m. 1773 Ebenezer Cooper.

438. xi. - Urial Evans bapt. 1753; m. I774 Lucretia Evans (481).

439. xii. John Evans bapt. 1755 ; d. y.

440. xiii. Elzi Evans bapt. 1758; of Hartland 1768.

441. xiv. John Evans bapt. 1760, m. 1778 Rhoda Putnam.

442. XV. Phila Evans bapt. 1762.

443. xvi. Selah Evans b. 1778; d. 1792.

132.

Eunice Doolittle( Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham), dau. of
Rev. Benjamin and Lydia (Todd) D., was b. at Northfield Jan.
24, 1724. She m. Lt. Samuel Ashley, s. of Daniel and Thankful
(Hawkes) (Taylor) A. He was b. Mar. 20, 1720. They set. at
Winchester, N. H., about 1754; lieut. 1764. Thankful was dau.
of Eleazur Hawkes.

152 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

CHILDREN.

448.

V.

449-

vi.

450.

vii.

451-

viii.

444. i. Oliver Ashley b. Oct. 20, 1743.

445. ii Tirza Ashley b. Dec. 24, 1745.

446. iii. Samuel Ashley b. Sept. 29, 1747; Col., m. Lydia Doo-

little (470).

447. iv. Thankful Ashley b. Nov. 10, 1749; m. Oct. 7, 1771,

John s. of John and Abigail (Rockwood) Alexan-
der. Ch. : Abigail, Susannah, Thankful, John, Oli-
ver. John Sr. d. 1806. There is a tradition in the
family that 6 mo. after his death he appeared and
had a long talk with his wid. An account of it is
published in Thomas' Almanac of 1812.

Eunice Ashley b. Dec. 17, 1751.

Daniel Ashley b. Jan. 15, 1754.

Luther Ashley b. Apr. 27, 1762, d. y.

Luther Ashley b. Aug. 19, 1764; rem. from Shutesbury

to Deerfield 1804; m. Eunice . Ch. : Gilbert,

Nancy, Dexter, Louisa, Dennis, Harriet, Emily.
453. ix. Susanna Ashley b. Dec. 16, 1766.

133.

Susanna DooIittIe( Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham), dau. of
Rev. Benjamin and Lydia (Todd) D., of N., was b. June 13, 1726.
She m. 1 74 1 Capt. Seth, s. of Zachariah and Sarah (Mattoon)
Field. They set. at N., where he was for many years the leading
spirit in religious, civil and military affairs ; was town clerk andj
treasurer for 40 years and schoolmaster nearly as long — begin-
ning the first school in N. in 1737. The terms continued 20 weeks
each winter and his compensation los per week. He is called "the
father of Unitarianism at Northfield." He had been fitted for
college by Rev. Benj. Doolittle, with whom he also studied theol-
ogy and probably imbibed the latter's liberal sentiments. Though
licensed to preach he did not long follow this line but turned to
teaching. He took an active part in the defense of the frontier

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 153

during the French and Indian wars, taking part in several expe-
ditions against the enemy, and being elected capt. at N. in 1756-
Was lieut. in Capt. Williams' comp. at Crown Point in 1757, and
capt. in same reg't at Ticondaroga 1759; was on the frontier till
close of Indian war 1760. While It. in 1755 he took part in the
well known fight with the French and Indians on Lake George.
He was commissioner and justice of the peace many years at N.,
where he became a prosperous merchant and leading citizen. He
was b. at Deerfield, Mass., Sept. '28, 1712, grad. at Yale college
1732; d. May 3, 1792. The following lines appear on his grave-
stone :

"Death comfortably ends

A wellspent useful life."

"In memory of Mrs.

Susanna the late
Amiable Consort of
Seth Field, Esq., she

Departed this Life
Nov. IS, 1787, In the
61 year of her age.

The inscription on Susanna's gravestone reads :

Life is uncertain, Death is Sure

Sin made the wound but Christ the cure."

CHILDREN.

453. i. George Field b. Dec. 22, 1742; res. at N., sergt. at the

surrender of Burgoyne, m. 1769 Martha (dau. of
Samuel) Smith; d. 1803. Ch. : Melinda, Francis,
Pattie b. May 26, 1775, in Adrastus Doolittle (476),
Roswell, Polly, George, Lucretia, Jesse, Seth, Elihu.

454. ii. Rufus Field b. Nov. 22, 1744; m. Elizabeth dau. of

Moses Field. Ch. : Clarissa, Elizabeth, Sylvester,
Charlotte, Kate, Hollis, Rufus, Alice, Lydia T.,
Fanny, Seth.

455. iii. Katherine Field b. May 29, 1746, d. Aug. 24 sm. yr.

459-

vii.

460.

viii.

461.

ix.

154 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

456. iv. Katharine Field (2d) b. Aug. i, 1747, m. Sept. 23, 1767,

Elijah Mattoon (s. of Nathaniel) ; she d. Aug. 8,
1835, a. 88. Ch. : Sarah, Lucy, Susanna, Katy, Elijah.

457. V. Sibyl Field b. Oct. 15, 1749; m. Aug. 5, 1768, Oliver

Doolittle (467).

458. vi. Susanna Field b. July 10, 1751, m. Mar. 18, 1771, Asha-

hel s. of Asahel Stebbins b. 1750, was in the cam-
paign of 1777, d. 1822. She d. Apr. 9, 1835, a. 84.

Ch. : Eliphas, Olive, Thomas, Susanna F., Lydia,

Cyrus, Asahel, Mary, Francis.
Francis Field b. June 23, 1753; d. 1770.
Olive Field b. Aug. 19, 1755, m. Cotton Dickinson.
Rhoda Field b. Oct. 21, 1757, m. Sylvanus Watriss of

New Windsor. Revol. soldier 1779. Ch. : Asa,

Henry, Patty.
462. X. Henry Field b. Sept. 2, 1759; Revol. soldier 1779; d.

Jan. 4, 1813. He m. 1783 Rhoda Stratton who d.

1833, a. 71. Ch. : Sophia, Rhoda, Henry, Charles,

Zenophen, Mary S., Erasmus J.
Seth Field b. Nov. 6, 1761 ; physician; Revol. soldier

1780.
Fanny Field b. Nov. 6, 1763; m. Feb. 15, 1786, Asa

Gates, of Brimfield.
Charles F. Field b. Aug. 20, 1765; d. 1792.
Theadore Field b. May 7, 1769; rem. to Brookfield.

134.

Lucius Doolittle (Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham), s. of
Rev. Benjamin and Lydia (Todd) D., of Northfield, where he
was b. May 16, 1728; was a soldier in the French war. He set.
in N. and kept a noted stag^e tavern at the north end of the main
street for many years, till the establishment of the turnpike, with
its toll-gates drove the travel from southern Vermont for Boston
to a more northern route. This property a few years ago was the
homestead of Chas. Alexander but is now occupied by Northfield
Sem., Revelle Hall.

The tavern in those times was a centre of good fellowship.

463.

xi.

464.

xii.

465-

xiii.

466.

xiv.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 55

It occupied a unique place in the life of the community, and was
next in importance to church and village store. It was the scene
for social gatherings and merrymakings, summer and winter, for
all the region round. The vendue was an event in its life and
"general trainin's" several times a year, for the men between the
ages of 1 6 and 60, brought together more people than any other
occurrence. On these days besides the military marches and
maneuvers were such sports as running, leaping, wrestling, nine
pins, and quoits, and friendships were renewed and new ones
made. They drank to each other's health and prosperity at the
tavern bar, and all found it a day of days to swap new gossip.
Training day underwent many modifications and only in recent
times has ceased entirely.

The old sign which swung out at the tavern is still preserved.
On the top is the date 1784. In the centre is painted a rabbit, with
a tall elm tree standing on the right and left; and underneath in
clear cut lettering is "Doolittle's Tavern," It was a swinging sign
and the inscription and pictures are alike on both sides. The sign
was always a conspicuous feature at an inn and hung either on
the front of the house or on a shade tree or nearby post. Its em-
blem or device was usually suggestive of the tavern's name.

Mr. D. in 1751 received 1373^ acres of land in the fourth
division in N. besides the lands he received at the death of his
father in 1749. May 12, 1759, he sells to Philip Mattoon the lot
at N. with barn and cow house thereon which was bought by his
father for ii6o in 1747. Dec. 31, 1761, he sells the old home lot
received from his father, to Ebenezer Pomeroy, of Sunderland,
for £200. In Nov., 1763, Lucius Doolittle, of N., deeds land in
Wallingford, Ct., to Benjamin Doolittle (prob.), of W.

156 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

Lucius m. Sarah, dau. of Dea. Samuel and Sarah (dau. of
Abraham Morton) Smith, of N. He and his bro. Amzi m. sisters.
[Dea, Samuel was s. of Preserved and Mary (dau. of Chilab
Smith) Smith, of Hadley. Preserved was s. of Samuel and Mary
(dau. of James Ensign) Smith, and gr. son of Rev. Henry Smith,
who prob. came over in the "Elizabeth" in 1635 and was set. in
the ministry at Weathersfield, 1640, where he d. 1648.]

The name of Lucius Doolittle appears in list of grantees at
Hertford, N. H., in 1761 and at Pittsford, N. H., same year, also
with his 2 older sons at Grantham, N. H., 1767. In Sept., 1753,
on petition from Lydia, Lucius and Amzi Doolittle, the gov. of
N. H. granted them deeds to their lands lying out a little from
Northfield, Mass., which had just been declared in N. H.

In 1779 Lucius was a member of the Committee of Corres-
pondence at N. ; was selectman 1766 and 1780. One authority
says there were 13 ch.

CHILDREN.

Oliver b. Dec. 3, 1746.

Charles b. Sept. 4, 1748.

Benjamin b. Nov. 6, 1751 ; d. Apr. 16, 1762; buried at

N., epitaph is illegible.
470. iv. Lydia b. Dec. 25, 1753; m. Aug. 9, 1770, her cousin

Col. Sam'l Ashley (446), of Winchester, N. H.
Sarah b. Dec. 25, 1756; d. Apr. 20, 1773.
Lucius b. Nov. 11, 1761.
Benjamin b. Jan. 12, 1764.
Jesse b. Feb. 2, 1766; set. in Lydon, Vt.
Calvin b. July, 1768.
Adrastus b. Aug. 10, 1771.
Sarah b. July 6, 1773, m. Maj. Elisha Alexander.

467. i.

468. ii.

469. iii.

471.

V.

472.

vi

473-

vii.

474-

viii

475-

ix.

476.

X.

477.

xi.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 157

135.

Chloe Doolittle (Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham) dau. of
Rev. Benj. and Lydia (Todd) D., was b. May 4, 1730, at North-
field, She m. about 1746 Moses, s. of Peter and Mary (Allen)
Evans, of N., and bro. of John Evans, who m. her sis. Lydia
(130). Moses was b. Mar. 17, 1721 ; was a soldier in the French
war 1756. They rem. to Warwick, Mass., about 1761, where he
,d. Feb. 6, 1807.

CHILDREN.

Mary Evans b. Oct. 29, 1746; d. in infancy.

Moses Evans b. Oct. 15, 1747; set. in Warv^ick.

Mercy Evans b. Sept. 29, 1749.

Lucretia Evans b. Feb. 2, 1752; m. her cousin Urial •

Evans (438).
Ira Evans b. Feb. 5, 1754.
Joseph Evans b. Oct. 10, 1756.
Anna Evans b. Mar. 28, 1759.
Imri Evans b. Dec. 7, 1761.

486. ix. Zerah Evans, of Winsor, Vt., 1786.

487. X. Arad Evans b. Aug. 12, 1770.

137-

Thankful Doolittle (Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham), dau.
of Rev. Benj. and Lydia (Todd) D., was b. at N. Jan. 20, 1734.
She m. July 10, 1750, Abner, s. of Josiah and Anna (Wilder)
Willard, of Lancaster, Mass. He was a soldier at Fort Dummer
and sometimes called Oliver.

138.

Amzi Doolittle (Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham), s. of Rev.
Benj. and Lydia (Todd) D., of Northfield, was b. Nov. 15, 1737.

478.

479.

ii.

480.

iii.

481.

iv.

482.

v.

483.

vi.

484.

vii.

485.

viii.

158 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

In 1756 he belonged to the Northfield foot company. In Oct. of
that year, when the news of Montcalm's victories was received,
he with 16 others was drafted out of the company to serve under
Gen. Winslow; but whether the men went into active service at
the time is not recorded. He m. i] at N. Dec. 6, 1757, Jerusha b.
in 1742 dau. of Dea. Samuel and Sarah (Morton) Smith (see 134
for ancestors). She was sis. of Sarah, who m. Amzi's bro. Lucius.
There is a tradition that she deserted her family, leaving an infant
of 5 months and joined the Dorrellites; that when they were
broken up, she came back — Amzi having in the meantime m.
again — and lived with one of her children until her death Oct.
19, 1844, at the advanced age of 102.

Amzi m. 2] prob. about 1763, Hannah , b. May 28,

1748; she d. Mar. 4, 1826. Soon after his first m. he rem. to
Warwick, Mass., as the town records show he was there in 1760
as one of a committee to lay out a tract of land 40 rods square
around the meeting house for a burial place and other purposes.
At the first town meeting held in Warwick May 9, 1763, he was
elected town treasurer. Sept. 5, 1774, a company of 50 minute
men was raised by the town, of which Sam. Williams was capt.,
Jas. Bell, lieut., and Amzi Doolittle, ensign. He served as one of
the selectmen in 1767 and 1776.

In the autumn of 1775 all the good mothers, wives and
daughters in Mass. were busy making soldier clothes for the army
during the coming winter. Rolls of wool were brought out and
loving hands carded, spun and wove it into cloth. The Provincial
Congress had made a demand for 13,000 coats to be ready Oct.
1st, and the apportionment was made among the towns. The
directions stated that they should be of good plain cloth, prefer-

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 159

ably of home manufacture and made up in the usual simple way
without lapels, short with small folds and faced with the same
cloth with which they were made. To give even further uniform
appearance pewter buttons stamped with the regiment's number
were used. Each soldier volunteering for 8 months received one
of these bounty coats which was regarded as a valued possession.
In 1777 Amzi mov. to Townsend, Vt., then a newly settled
village, where he bought and cleared a large tract of forest land
in the south part of the town. He gave his sons Amzi, Origin and
Roswell, a tract of forest in the vicinity of the home farm which
they cleared for themselves. In 1824 he rem. with his sons Amzi
and Origin to Winchester, N. H., where he d. Apr. 9, 1830,
aged 93. I . : . ' . M

CHILDREN (i M.) (B. in Warwick).

488. i. Electa b. Aug. 12, 1760, m. Rev. Caleb Rich.

489. ii. Lavinia b. Dec. 12, 1761, m. Hicks ; rem. to N. Y.

State where she d. leaving a family.

(2M.)

490. iii. Luther b. Jan. 14, 1764.

491. iv. Lucy b. Dec. 13, 1765-

492. V. Amzi b. Feb. 24, 1768.

493. vi. Junia b. May 5, 1770; d. at Jamaica, Vt., June 27, 1791,

unm.

494. vii. Origin b. Jan. 20, 1773.

495. viii. Roswell b. Feb. 4, 1775.

496. ix. Jerusha b. Aug. 21, I777-

139-
Lucy Daolittle (Rev. Benjamin, John, Abraham) dau. of
Rev. Benj. and Lydia (Todd) D., was b. July 15, 1741, at N.

l6o THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

She m. Aug. 20, 1765, Simeon, s. of Japhit and Thankful (Dick-
enson) Chapin, b. Aug. 20, 1739. He was lieut. in the Revolu-
tionary army. They res. at Chicopee, Mass. He d. May 20, 1799.
Lucy d. Sept. 2, 1824, aged 83. "She was a lady of cultivated
mind, having good opportunity for improvement both in her par-
ents' and her husband's house. She taught school before mar-
riage, became hopefully pious at 16, and acquired extensive re-
ligious knowledge. She was very useful in society, and especially
among the sick. At her funeral her pastor said, "A mother in
Israel has indeed fallen." Her branch like that of her brothers
and sisters has been remarkably prolific. [I have record of nearly
200 of her descendants but a complete list would prob. include
several hundred more.]

CHILDREN.

497. i. Roswell Chapin b. Apr. 16, 1767; d. Apr. 5, 1843; m,

Asenath dau. of Phineas and Sabrina Chapin b. Jan.
5, 1778; d. Sept. 19, 1830. Ch. : Asaph, Sophonia,
Roswell, Asenath, Charles, James O., Sabrina W.,
Jenette E., Jesse S.

498. ii. Lucy Chapin b. Nov. i, 1768; m. Nov. 29, 1787, in

Chicopee, Joseph Allen, of East Windsor, Ct., and
res. in that part of Springfield called Williamansett.
He was s. of Joseph and Lois (Burnham) A., was
b. at East Windsor Mar. 23, 1762; took part in the
Revol. serving nearly 4 yrs., going first at age of 16
as a substitute for his father. Later he was sta-
tioned at West Point. Before leaving his good
mother sewed 2 guineas in his vest lining as pro-
vision against any need which might overtake him.
He was a guard on the occasion of Major Andre's
execution at Tappan, N. Y., and was in the detach-
ment of troops which escorted the specie borrowed
from France and Holland, from Springfield Hill to
Philadelphia. There were said to have been 12 tons
silver and 2 of gold. He was afterward a pilot on

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY, l6l

the Connecticut river in which, he was drowned on
Williamanset Falls Nov. g, 1822. Lucy d. at Chic-
opee Mar. 31, 1844. They had 7 ch. all b. at Chic-
opee: Joseph, Juna (son), Horace, Amzi, Otis,
Sylvesta, Lucy.

499. iii. Melinda Chapin b. Oct. 2, 1770; m. John Montague, of

Granby. Ch. : Mary and others.

500. iv. Simeon Chapin b. Aug. 1772; d. 1776.

501. V. Thankful Chapin b. Oct. 12, 1774; m. (i) 1790 a distant

relative Bezaleel s. of Ephraim Chapin. He was b.
Mar. 9, 1769; farmer, res. in Chicopee till 1799, then
rem. to Ludlow and d. there June 14, 1812. Wid.
Thankful m. (2) Dec. 14, 1814, Elijah Torrey, of
Wilbraham, Mass., a widower with 4 ch. They res.
at Ludlow on the home farm. Ch. of Thankful (i
m.) : Orramel, Almesia, Alfred, Theodore, Lydia
Todd, Lucy Doolittle.

502. vi. Aseph Chapin b. June 1776; d. 1777.

503. vii. Lydia Chapin b. Mar. 31, I778; m- Robert Wright.

They rem. from Chicopee to Jerico, Vt. ; had a fam-
ily.

504. viii. Sarah Chapin b. June, 1779; d. 1780.

505. ix. Simeon Chapin b. June 22, 1781 ; Capt., was a farmer

and something of a military genius. He m. Apr. 13,
1805, Dorcas b. abt. 1779, dau. of Lt. Noah and
Hannah (Searls) Strong, of Westhampton, Mass.
He with his family rem. to Phoenix, Oswego Co.,
N. Y., where he continued farming. He d. Feb. 5,
1844, at Phoenix. His wife d. there also. Ch. :
Simeon S., Elvira M., Eliphaz S., Sherman S., Dor-
cas Doolittle.

506. x. Sarah Chapin b. Dec. 3, 1784; m. (i) Towers Frank-

lin; had 2 sons. He d. Late in life she m. (2)
Samuel Pomeroy, of Somers, Ct.

141.

James Doolittle (Thomas, John, Abraham), s. of Thomas
and Hannah (Fenn) D., was born at W. Feb. 7, 1734. The fam-
ily rem. to Watertown, Conn., when he was but a boy. He m. i]
Dec. 28, 1756, Dinah, dau. of Stephen and Deborah Welton, and

1 62 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

set. at Watertown, being among its early settlers. His home was
in what was called Westbury. The first movement to form an
Episcopal parish at Westbury was in 1764, when James and
Thomas Doolittle and others held a meeting and agreed to hold
public worship at Westbury, when there was no worship at Water-
bury, and also arranged to erect an Episcopal church at Westbury.
They met at the home of James Doolittle in winter and at David
Scot's in summer.

Thomas (father of James) is buried at Watertown. On his
gravestone is, "To the memory of Thomas Doolittle, who ex-
changed this life for immortality Jan. 23, 1782, in the 82 year of
his age. He lived and died with the integrity, probity and piety
of a Christian. Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for
the end of that man is peace." Hannah, wf. of Thomas, d. 1760
in 56th yr. and also lies buried in the solitude and silence of the
cemetery at Watertown. Her husband Thomas m. 2] at Water-
town Apr. 31, 1761, Sarah, wid. of David Hungerford. James m.
2] June 19, 1758, Sarah, dau. of Wm. Andrus.

A child of theirs d. Jan. 27, 1767, another d. Feb. 18, 1771,
and a 3d one d. Nov. 5, 1774, all at Watertown. A colored boy
CAvned by James Doolittle d. at Watertown Mar. 4, 1760.

CHILDREN. (l M.)

507. i. Child d. at Watertown Sept. 3, 1757.

(2M.)

508. ii. Dinah b. Apr. 2, 1759, m. Josiah Seymour.

509. iii. Thomas b. May 12, 1761.

510. iv. Sarah b. July 12, 1763.

511. V. child d. y. ' 1 .

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

163

147.

Samuel Doolittle (Thomas, John, Abraham), s. of Thomas
and Hannah (Fenn) D., was b. at Watertown, Conn, He m. Apr.
4, 1765, Eunice, dau. of Thomas Cole, of Watertown, and settled
there.

CHILDREN.

512.

i.

513-

ii.

514-

iii.

515-

iv.

516.

V.

517-

vi.

518.

vii

David b. Jan. 20, 1766.

Benjamin b. Oct. 31, 1767; d. at Watertown Dec. 8 sm.

yr.

child (twin) d. at Watertown Aug. 1768.

child (twin) d. at Watertown Aug. 1768.

Benjamin b. Oct. 25, 1769.

Mary b. Apr. 26, 1772; d. at Watertown June 16, 1774.

Joseph b. Sept. 27, 1774.

152.

Jonathan Doolittle (Jonathan, Samuel, Abraham), s. of Jon-
athan and Rebecca (Ranny) D., of Middletown, Conn., was b.
Dec. 28, 1727. He m. Lydia Williams Sept. 27, 1750. They set.
at M.

CHILDREN.

519-

520.

ii.

521.

iii.

522.

iv.

523-

V.

524-

vi.

Lydia b. Aug. 2, 1751.
Hannah b. Oct. 26, 1752.
Rebecca b. Jan. 14, 1754.
Lucy b. Apr. 2, 1755.
Sarah b. July 30, 1756.
Jonathan b. Aug. 5, 1758.

153-

5amuel Doolittle (Jonathan, Samuel, Abraham), s. of Jon-
athan and Rebecca (Ranny) D., was b. at M. Feb. 24, 1729. He

1 64

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

m. July 4, 1 75 1, Elizabeth, eldest ch. of Joseph and Elizabeth
(Hollister) Hubbard, of Glastonbury, Ct., b. Jan. 12, 1729-30.
They rem. to W. about the close of the old French war, but re-
turned to M. after a few years and d. there Apr. 12, 1778, of
smallpox. Daus. of Am. Revol., vol. v., pg. 157, says that 7 of
Samuel's sons were active patriots during the struggle for inde-
pendence. This must include 3 sons-in-law.

CHILDREN.

Samuel b. Aug. 21, 1752.

Elizabeth b. Jan. 2, 1755,

Ephraim b. Sept. 30, 1756.

George b. June 14, 1759.

Susanna b. Feb. 28, 1761.

Eunice b. Jan. 26, 1763; prob. m. Solomon Windsor at

Berlin, Ct., 1786.
Joel b. Mar. 2, 1765.
Hannah b. Feb. 26, 1767.
Rebecca b. May i, 1769, at M., m. Serg't Josiah

Mosher, and had a dau. Cornelia who m. Sterling

Armstrong Millard. Their dau. Julia Elizabeth m.

Norman A. Williams and has a dau. Cornelia E. b.

in N. Y. and is a D. A. R.
Stephen b. Apr. 22, 1771 ; d. Jan. 2, 1776.
Anne b. Apr. 9, 1773.

525.

i.

526.

ii.

527.

iii.

528.

iv.

529.

V.

530.

vi.

531.

vii

532.

vii

533-

ix.

534- X.

535- xi.

Note. — The first three and last three ch. (above) were b. at M., the
others at W.

155.

Joel Doolittle (Jonathan, Samuel, Abraham), s. of Jonathan
and Rebecca (Ranny) D., was b. at M. Nov. 28, 1732. He m.
and set. in Haddam, Conn. He deeded a tract of land in 1796.
Dressing was simple — the clothes mainly homespun. But leading
citizens appeared in small clothes, silk stockings, low shoes with

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

165

silver buckles, ruffl'ecl shirt and ruffled sleeve bands, a stock about
the neck, a powdered wig, cocked hat, and carried a silver headed
cane.

CHILDREN.

536. i. Ira.

537. ii. Joel.

538. iii. Edward d. at Dover, Mich., about 50 years ago.

156.
Rebecca Doolittte (Jonathan, Samuel, Abraham), dau. of
Jonathan and Rebecca (Ranny) D., was b. at M. Nov. 14, 1734.
She m. Samuel Higbee Nov. 24, 1757, at M.

539.

540.

54

542.

543

544

CHILDREN.

Samuel Higbee b. Aug. 14, 1758.
Ruth Higbee b. July 13, 1760.
Lemuel Higbee b. Dec. 26, 1762.
Timothy Higbee b. July 18, 1766.
Isaac Higbee b. Mar. 8, 1767.
Sylvester Higbee b. Jan. i, 1773.

162.

Gol. Ephraim Doolittle (Lieut. Samuel, Samuel, Abraham),
s. of Lieut. Samuel and Jane (Wheeler) D., was b. at Stafford,

,Conn., Oct. 29, 1725.
.The family rem. to Pal-
mer, Mass., about
1730, where his father d. six yrs. later. As a young man he set.
in Worcester where he resided at least 15 yrs. (perhaps much
longer), a successful merchant and prominent and highly re-
garded public citizen.

He m. Sarah Morton, of Hatfield. Their intention of mar-

1 66 TPIE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

riage is recorded under date of May 26, 1750. In 1757 her name
with his appears on the deed transferring- for £300 his father's
farm in Pahiier — the rights of the remaining heirs in which
Ephraim had bought out in 1750.

Ephraim took a hvely interest in poHtical and mihtary aflfairs.
At the breaking out of the French war he received a captain's
commission and entered the service of the colonies. He was with
Gen. Amherst at the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point in
1759, and assisted Gen. Stark in opening and completing the mil-
itary road from Crown Point to Charleston, N. H., which passed
through Chimney Point in Addison, through Bridport and
Shoreham, in each of which Ephraim became proprietor of 6
rights in Oct., 1761. Bridport was grateful for his early aid, and
Pittsford, Vt., received its charter in 1761 from New Hampshire
through his efforts. Nearly one-third of this town was at one
period owned by him. In the fall of 1761 he with 63 associates
received 23,040 acres at Pittsford. He was moderator at its first
town meeting in Dec, 1761, and did more than any other person
toward settling the place. In Oct., 1761, he was also among the
grantees at Flamstead, N. H. Later in 1768 Ephraim received
several hundred acres in Relham, N. H.

With the war over he returned to Worcester and was chosen
selectman in 1763. In 1766 he became their representative at the
General Court. Taking a prominent and active part in the poli-
ical transactions of the times, he was placed on important muni-
cipal committees. He held various offices of trust in the town,
and was a decided and ardent Whig from the beginning of the*,
troubles preceding the Revolution.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 67

He rem. to Petersham near Worcester in 1772, where he
carried on his business as a hatter and where incidentally he be-
came an important addition to the Whig party. His dwelling was
a "hip roofed" house situated a little north of where in more recent
times Wm. Clark resided. For many years Ephraim was chair-
man of the Committee of Correspondence at this place.

Like the obscure but all important foundation of some im-
posing structure is the historical import of the life and social con-
dition of people in their homes and hamlets — material too often
passed over by the historian for the more spectacular events of the
battlefield or the rise and fall of kings. The colonists of New
England in those days appeared to the outward eye to be simply
concerned with the annual election, collection of taxes and repair
of their highways. As with a calm a great storm often gathers,
so men usually think most when acting least. The popular mind
was undergoing a preparation without which the struggle of revo-
lution and its results would have been impossible. While appar-
ently doing little beyond increasing in wealth and numbers, the
colonists were reading their newspapers carefully, and discussing
and settling in their own minds certain fundamental principles of
constitutional government and popular rights, which lead up to
their opposing the home government and later to constructing a
new one for themselves.

Ephraim was one of the "men of strong sense and excellent
understanding" appointed on the committee at Petersham in Dec.
1772, which reported the famous spirited reply to the circular
letter distributed through the country by the Boston Committee of
Correspondence. The letter in this reply was written by Mr.
Doolittle and the resolutions themselves are also credited to his

1 68 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

pen in Lincoln's Hist, of Worcester, though doubted in part in
Willson's Petersham Memorial. The Petersham Letter and Reso-
lutions attracted wide attention on their publication, and in influ-
ential circles the question was often asked, what eminent man the
town of Petersham possessed who had attached himself to the
Whig cause. These firm and patriotic resolutions and letter,
which form an interesting part of the history of that period, are
inserted below% also the instructions given at the same time to
Capt. Ephraim Doolittle, then the town's representative at the
General Court, and who also served as moderator at this town
meeting which, without a dissenting voice, approved these acts.
They show his sentiments and indicate the temper of the times
and spirit of the people among whom Ephraim was an influential
factor.

"To the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Boston.

"Gentlemen, — The town of Petersham, having received the
circular letter from the town of Boston, with the statement of
rights and grievances as published by them, most sensibly con-
gratulate you on reflecting on that principle of virtue which must
have induced your town, at so critical a day, to take the lead in
so good a cause ; and our admiration is heightened, when we con-
sider your being exposed to the first efforts of the iron jaws of
power. The time may come when, if you continue your integ-
rity, that you may be driven from your goodly heritages ; and if
that should be the case (which God of his infinite mercy prevent),
we invite you to share with us in our small supplies of the neces-
sities of life. And should the voracious jaws of tyranny still
haunt us, and we should not be able to withstand them, we are
determined to retire and seek refuge among the inland aboriginal
natives of this country, with whom we doubt not but to find more
humanity and brotherly love than we have lately received from
our mother country.

"We are sensible that there is a number amongst us, who
are wicked enough to make use of their whole influence to divide,
and render the efforts making for a union abortive ; and that they
are induced to conduct in this manner from the low motives of

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 169

expecting to be sharers in the arbitrary power which they are so
active in endeavoring should take place, and of sharing in the un-
righteous plunder of their fellowmen. But may God graciously
disappoint their measures, and turn their hearts !

"We send herewith an attested copy of the doings of our
town. If the nature of causes ever again bespeaks any more from
us, we then again shall offer what then may appear right ; for we
read, that those that were faithful spake often one to the other;
and may God of his infinite mercy, in his own time, deliver us !
"(Signed) Silvanus How, per order,

"David Sanderson, Town Clerk."

"At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the
town of Petersham, in the county of Worcester, duly assembled
according to law, held by adjournment on the fourth of January,
1773, the Committee, on the 30th ult., made the following report,

"The town, having received a circular letter from the town
of Boston, respecting the present grievances and the abominable
oppression under which this country groans, have thereupon taken
into their most serious consideration the present policy of the
British Government and administration with regard to Great
Britain and their Colonies ; have carefully reviewed the mode of
election, and the quality of the electors of the Commons of that
island ; and have also attentively reflected upon the enormous and
growing influence of the crown, and that bane of all free states,
a standing army in the time of peace ; and, in consequence thereof,
are fully confirmed in the opinion that the ancient rights of the
nation are capitally invaded, and that the greatest part of the most
precious and established liberties of Englishmen utterly destroyed.

"And whereas the Parliament of Great Britain, by various
statutes and acLs have unrighteously distressed our trade, denied
and precluded us from the setting up and carrying on manufac-
tures highly beneficial to the inhabitants of these territories, re-
stricted and prevented our lawful intercourse and commerce with
other states and kingdoms ; and have also made laws and institu-
tions touching life and limb, in dishersion of the ancient common
law of the land ; and moreover have, in these latter times, robbed
and plundered the laborious inhabitants of this extensive conti-
nent of their property by mere force and pozver; and are now
draining this people of the fruits of their toil, by thus raising a
revenue from them against the natural rights of man, and in open
violation of the laws of God, —

"This town in union with the worthy inhabitants of Boston,

170 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

now think it their indispensible duty to consider of the prerpises
and the present aspect of the times, and to take such steps as,
upon mature dehberation, are judged right and expedient, and
hereupon this town —

"Resolved, That, with a Governor appointed from Great
Britain (especially at this day) during pleasure, with a large
stipend dependent upon the will of the crown, and controlled by
instruction from a British minister of state, with a council sub-
ject to the negative of such a Governor, and with all officers, civil
and military, subject to his appointment or consent, with a castle
in the hand of a standing army, stationed in the very bowels of
the land, and with that amazing number of placemen and depend-
ents with which every maritime town already swarms, no people
can ever be truly virtuous, free or brave.

"Resolved, That the Parliament of Great Britain, usurping
and exercising a legislative authority over, and extorting an un-
righteous revenue from, those colonies, against all Divine and
human laws, and the late appointment of salaries to be paid to our
Superior Court Judges, whose creation, pay and commission de-
pend on mere will and pleasure, completes a system of bondage
equal to any ever before fabricated by the combined efforts of
the ingenuity, malice, fraud, and wickedness of man.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this town, that a despotic^
arbitrary government is the kingdom of this world, as set forth in
the New Testament, and is diametrically opposite to the estab-
lishment of Christianity in a society, and has a direct tendency
to sink a people into a profound state of ignorance and irreligion ;
and that, if we have an eye to our own and posterity's happiness
(not only in this world, but in the world to come), it^is our duty
to oppose such a government. And further, —

"Resolved, That the depriving the colonies of their constitu-
tional rights may be fitly compared to the dismembering the
natural body, which will soon afifect the heart; and it would be
nothing unexpected for us to hear that those very persons who
have been so active in robbing the colonies of their constitutional
rights, — that they have delivered up the constitution of our mother
country into the hands of our king. Therefore, —

"Resolved, That it is the first and highest social duty of this
people to consider of, and seek ways and means for, a speedy re-
dress of these mighty grievances and intolerable wrongs ; and that
for the obtainment of this end, this people are warranted by the
laws of God and nature in the use of every rightful art, and
energy of policy, stratagem and force. And while we are under
these awful frowns of Divine Providence, and involved as this

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY, I7I

pepole are, in heavy calamities, which daily increase in number
and severity, it is highly becoming, towns and individuals, to
humble themselves before Almighty God, seriously to commune
with their own hearts, and seek carefully with tears for the causes
of the prevailing distresses of the land ; and while it is apparent
that pristine piety and purity of morals have given place to in-
fidelity, dissipation, luxury, and gross corruption of mind and
morals, there is a loud call for public humility, lamentings, and ref-
ormation ; and it is at this time eminently incumbent upon one and
all to seek at the throne of the great God for those special and re-
markable interpositions of Divine Providence, grace, and mercy,
which have so often saved New England from both public and
private distress and misery. And as there is great reason to be-
lieve, that in past times we have too much depended upon the
exertions of worldly wisdom and political devices, it becomes us
in our present melancholy situation, to rely no longer on an arm
of flesh, but on the arms of that all-powerful God who is able to
unite the numerous inhabitants of this extensive territory as a
band of brothers in one common cause, who can easily give that
true religion which shall make us his people indeed, that spirit
which shall fit us to endure temporary hardships for the procure-
ment of future happiness, that spirit of valor and irresistable
courage which shall occasion our aged and our youth to jeopard
their lives with joy in the high places of the field for his name and
service' sake, for the preservation also of this goodly heritage of
our fathers, for the sake of the living children of our loins, and
the unborn millions of posterity.

"We believe that there are very many who, in these days,
have kept their integrity and garm.cnts unspotted, and hope that
God will deliver them and our nation for their sake ; that God will
not suffer this land, where the gospel hath flourished, to become a
slave of the world ; that he will stir up witnesses of the truth, and
in his own time spirit his people to stand up for his cause and
deliver them. In a similar belief, that patriot of patriots, Algernon
Sidney, lived and died, and dying breathed a like sentiment and
prophecy, touching his own and the then approaching times ; a
prophecy, however, not accomplished until a glorious revolution.

"Silvanus How, per order.

"Approved of by vote of the town zvifhout contradiction.

"Attest : Ephraim Doolittle, Moderator.

"David Sanderson, Town Clerk."

The town then adopted the following vote of instructions to

their Representative:

172 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

"To Capt. Ephraim Doolittle.

"As you represent us at the Great and General Court, in this
dark, gloomy, and distressing day of the manifestation of God's
judgments against us, we think it our duty and interest to com-
municate some of our sentiments to you, and to instruct you in
some of the most important concerns of the public. It is needless
for us to recapitulate to you the many enormous encroachments
on our constitution. But when we consider the circumstances of
our forefathers leaving their native country, the hardships they
underwent in settling this then howling wilderness, without any
cost to Great Britain, the profits they receive by our trade, the
circumstance of the first charter or compact between our fore-
fathers and Great Britain being wrested from them (and conse-
quently from us), the humble submissive temper our forefathers
showed in receiving another, which abridged them of many val-
uable and reasonable rights, which were contained in the former,
without any color of right ; and, notwithstanding all the fore-
going circumstances, to have the remaining privileges of our
present charter wrested from us by mere power, notwithstanding
they were granted by special grace, certain knowledge, and mere
motion ; to have our honest earnings wrested from us without our
consent; to have the public fountains of justice corrupted by
private interest, in order to pave the way and inforce acts of
injustice and tyranny, — we say that these capital instances of in-
justice indicate to us that the glory is departed from the English
nation, and that it is our opinion that our mother country has lost
that Divine spirit of truth and righteousness which, in former
times, have saved them and this country from ruin.

"Therefore, it is our earnest desire, and v/e here direct you
to use your utmost influence (as one of the legislative body), to
convince the nation of Great Britain, that the measures that they
have meted out to us will have a direct tendency to destroy both
them and us ; and petition the King and Parliament of Great
Britain, in the most pathetic and striking manner, to relieve us
from our aggrivated grievances. But if all this should fail, we
recommend it to your consideration, and direct you to move it to
the consideration of the honorable court, whether it would not be
best to call in the aid of some Protestant power or powers, re-
questing that they would use their kind and Christian influence
with our mother country, that so we may be relieved, and that
brotherly love and harmony may again take place, and that natural
alliance again be restored between us and Great Britain which may
continue until time shall be no more. Which God of his infinite
mercy grant for Christ sake.

"Attest : Silvanus How, per order.

"David Sanderson, Town Clerk."

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 173

In 1773 Capt. Doolittle represented Petersham at the General
Court; the following year he was a delegate to the Provincial
Congress which met at Concord, and that autumn was chosen
captain of the West-side military company ; and soon after, col-
onel of the regiment of minute-men in the county. The military
companies were well organized and officered and liberal appropri-
ations for ammunition wefe rfiade. In 1774 all males over 21 yrs.
were urged to sign the non-consumptive covenant agreeing not
to use the articles on which Parliament was taxing the colonies.
Thus events were fast shaping themselves for the great drama of
war soon to open. One week before the battle of Lexington the
town being met voted, "that the present assembly be directed tjo
warn every male inhabitant from 16 yrs. old and upwards, to meet
at the meeting house in Petersham with arms and ammunition,
on Monday next (Apr. 17th) at nine o'clock in the morning."
Thus there was a general muster of all the able-bodied men and
youth in the town on the day but one before the memorable 19th.

As the Lexington alarm reached Petersham on the eventful
morning, Col. Doolittle summoned his troops at once and marched
that very day for Boston. His command was mustered into ser-
vice probably Apr. 23d and stationed at Cambridge. On the
organization of the army he retained his rank in the Massachu-
setts line. Winsor's Hist, of Boston says : *Tt is probable that
the earliest works raised after Lexington day were some breast-
works thrown up across what is now the college yard (Harvard),
and it is probable also that they were raised early in May by
Colonel Ephraim Doolittle and his men." They extended to the
right as far as Holyoke place.

174 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

Staff-officers of Col. Ephraim Doolittle's regiment :

Colonel Ephraim Doolittle, of Petersham.
Lieut. Col. Benjamin Holden, of Princeton.
Major Willard Moore, of Paxton.
Chaplain Rev. Benj. Balob, of Danvers.
Adjutant John Woodward, of Westmouth.
Quartermaster Benj. Howard, of Shrewsbury.
Surgeon Enoch Dole, of Lancaster.
Surgeon's Mate Nathan Burnap, of Hopkinton.

Ephraim 's son Joel was a sergeant in this command. Sev-
eral of this staff served through or nearly through the war. Col.
Ephraim served till Oct., 1775. His men received i penny a mile
for travel and were paid for 140 miles (to Cambridge and return).

He was colonel 24th regiment Mass. line engaged Apr. 24,
1775; service 3 mo. 15 da.; reported commissioned May 19, 1775.

Order of the day, dated Cambridge, May 9, 1775, Col.
Ephraim Doolittle appt. field officer of fatigue "for tomorrow."

Order of the day, dated Cambridge, May 12, 1775, Col. Doo-
little appt. field officer of the picket "for tonight."

Order of the day, dated Cambridge, May 16, 1775, Col. Doo-
little appt. field officer of the main guard "for tomorrow."

Order of the day, dated Cambridge, May 20, 1775, Col. Doo-
little appt. officer of the day.

Order of the day, dated Prospect Hill, July 13, 1775, Col.
Doolittle appt. officer of the day "for tomorrow."

Order of the day, dated Prospect Hill, July 17, 1775, Col.
Doolittle appt. officer of the day "for tomorrow."

General order dated Headquarters, Cambridge, July 22, 1775,
Col. Doolittle's regiment assigned to a brigade to be commanded
by Brig. Gen. Sullivan and form part of the left wing of the army
under Maj. Gen. Lee and to be stationed at Winter Hill.

Col. Doolittle's reg't made a very fine appearance, and at one
time when certain military transactions between the Colonists and
British required a military escort into Boston a detachment was
made from his reg't to do the honors of the occasion.

Col. D.'s regiment was in the battle of Bunker Hill on June

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 75

17th and "bore themselves gallantly." He being confined to his
bed by an accidental injury, the regiment was led by Maj. Moore,
who found there a soldier's honorable grave.

In May, 1776, Col. D., as one of the leading spirits of the
town at Petersham, was chairman of the committee appt. at the
town meeting called "to see if the inhabitants will instruct their
Representative to inform the Great and General Court of this
Province, that they stand ready and are fully determined to sup-
port the Continental Congress with their lives and fortunes, on
condition they should declare the American Colonies independent
of corrupt and arbitrary Great Britain." When the vote was
taken as to whether the people would issue these instructions it
passed with but one dissentient.

"On that July 4, 1776, [when] Hancock, Adams, Jefferson
and the immortal train of patriots with whom they sat in council
at Philadelphia * * * gave heart and hand to that vote which
severed the American Colonies from the English crown and
created a new empire, * * * the staunch patriots of this town
[Petersham] sitting in council [in their humble weather-stained
meeting house that stood by the gate of the burial-field] with Col.
Doolittle for their moderator, were helping to provide the men
and the means without which that declaration would have been
but waste paper. And it neither belittles the moral grandeur of
that scene at Philadelphia, nor foists of an unbeseeming conspic-
uity that which transpired here eight and seventy years ago, to
associate them together.

"Honored be the men that dared declare independence ! Hon-
ored equally with them the men who, saving that declaration

176 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

* * * made it the rock of foundation on which to build the
foremost nation of this century !" — E. B. Willson's Centennial
Address at Petersham, July 4, 1854.

In 1778 Col. Ephraim and his fellow citizens considered care-
fully the Articles of Confederation, but disagreed on them. Later
he, as chairman of a large committee, submitted an elaborate
report against the state constitution proposed by the General
Court and the constitution was unanimously rejected. In 1779
he was a delegate to the convention at Cambridge to form a new
constitution.

He urged his fellow citizens to follow up their promises with
deeds, and throughout the dark days of that trying period they
were amongst the foremost in support of freedom's cause. Every
encouragement was given to the volunteers, liberal bounties, cloth-
ing, provision for families, and exemption from taxation. Event-
ually the recompense for sacrifices and privations appeared with
the end of the war and liberty secured.

At the close of the contest with England fresh troubles ap-
peared through false expectations built on exaggerated ideas of
independence. The veterans were unfitted for steady industry.
There was no currency. Individuals and government were in
debt. Disappointments followed. Disorder arose. Jealousies
toward those in power appeared, and the distresses were attrib-
uted to bad management.

In the midst of this Col. Doolittle rem. with his family in
1783 to his estate in Shoreham, Vt. He had "participated in
almost every act of public character in Worcester and Petersham
during his residence in either town."

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I77

Shoreham, a handsome township with Lake Champlain for
its western border, lies 40 miles south of Burlington, was char-
tered in 1 761, — earlier than any other town west of the Green
mts. north of Castleton, — through the agency of Capt. Ephraim
Doolittle, who was one of the 64 grantees of the 26,319 acres.
Palmer's Hist, of Lake Champlain says, that in the spring of 1766
Col. Doolittle came witn a number of other families from Wor-
cester, built a log house (whose site is still pointed out) and
lived as one family the first year, the men taking turns in cook-
ing. Fever and ague prevailing, some of the party left, but the
colonel spent much time here though he did not rem. his family
till 1783. He built the first saw mill in the town. He d. here in
1807. His s. Col. Joel also d. at this place.

Ephraim was a deist, and distinguished for accuracy, sound
judgment and scrupulous practice of the common virtues.

A curious implement was invented by him to supply de-
ficiency in muskets in the armament of his regiment. When the
long shaft of heavy material was held leveled toward an advancing
enemy, two stout blades 8 inches long united to a strong head,
projected forward like the prongs of a hay fork. Two other
blades of equal length extended latterly and another was turned
downward to give a descending blow. Five little swords whetted
on both edges were thus provided to attack an assailant on 'any
exposed point. The handle was lined for two or three feet from
the end with sharp steel plates set in the wood to defend it from
sabre cuts and to lacerate the hand which should grasp the
weapon to wrest it from its owner. The lower extremity term-
inated in a round iron point to be fixed in or against rampart or

545-
546.
547.

ii.
iii

548.

iv.

178 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

masonry. This formidable instrument of warfare after a short
trial was laid aside. It was called a 'Tory hook." It seems like
a relic of very remote antiquity. One of them is in the possession
of the American Antiquarian Soc'y of Worcester.

CHILDREN.

Sarah, m., Lieut. John Smith.

Joel.

Ephraim.

John was serg't in Capt. Wing Spooner's Comp. of
Col. Sparkawk's reg't and marched from Petersham
to reinforce Gen. Stark on receipt of news of his
famous battle at Bennington. The co. was engaged
Aug. 21, 1777, and served 9 da. He settled in West-
moreland, Cheshire Co., N. H., and was chosen one
of the four selectmen May 27, 1782, and again 1784.
He was town clerk in 1783 and again elected 1786.
In 1785 he was a notary and was justice of the
peace for the county 1784, 1788 and 1789-90.
549. V. Moses b. 1758.

163.

Mary Doolittle (Lieut. Samuel, Samuel, Abraham), dau. of
Lieut. Samuel and Jane (Wheeler) D., was b. about 1730, prob.
at Stafford, Ct. About this time the family rem. to Palmer, Mass.
She married Roger Stevens, one of the first settlers in Pittsford,
Vt., the town her bro. Ephraim was interested in founding.

Roger was b. 1730 (s. of Roger, whose father came from
Wales abt. 1700 to Quaker Hills, N. Y.) He was apprenticed to
a hatter and followed this business successfully. About 1745 he
and Mary Doolittle were m. and continued to res. at Quaker Hill,
where their ch. were b. In 1770, through Col. Eph. Doolittle,
they rem. to Pittsford, purchased a tract of land, built a house,

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. .. 179

and with the help of his stalwart sons soon made quite a hole in
the primitive forest. This house stood on the high ground about
30 rods west of the present Gorham bridge and on the south side
of the old military road to Crown Point. The cellar is still to be
seen, from the bottom of which two butternut trees are now
growing.

CHILDREN.

550. i. Roger Stevefis. In 1774-5 he built a grist mill in
Pittsford at mouth of Stevens brook near the old
ford on the 15 a. lot given by the proprietors in 1772
for a mill-privilege. At the outbreak of the Revol.
he sided with the English and, building a raft, float-
ed his millstones, iron, etc., down the creek to Mid-
dlebury; then joined the British, becoming a capt.,
at Montreal. During the war his fam. abode in P.
and he occasionally visited them secretly, as he was
an outlaw, liable to arrest and punishment. Later
a conscription act was passed in Vt. against Roger
and other tories, ordering 20 to 40 stripes to be giv-
en across their naked backs, if they came within the
State, together with immediate expulsion, and if
again returning, to be put to death. Further, any
one concealing them would be fined isoo. After this
act Roger's house was carefully watched by the
townsfolk, who were anxious to secure him, for it
was believed he aided the enemy in plunder and
devastation by valued information. One dark night
in July a citizen, spying a bright light in Roger's
house at an unusual hour, was convinced that he
was making a flying visit to his family. He told
his suspicions to the men in the fort, who imme-
diately turned out and surrounded the house. Three
of their number were chosen to enter, but found
only Mrs. Stevens with her 2 ch. It was afterwards
learned that Roger was forewarned of their ap-
proach and hid among the weeds close to the logs
of his house. It was also found that he had come
as leader of a party of some 30 Indians to attack the

l8o THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

fort, but finding it strongly garrisoned the savages
withdrew, while Roger improved the opportunity to
see his wf. and ch. These alarms of approaching
enemy were frequent and the women and ch. would
then go to the fort until the scare subsided. Roger's
farm, recently owned by Edwin Wheaton, was con-
fiscated. The house was abt. 70 rods east of the

present house. He had m. in 1773 Martha .

They rem. to Bestard, Canada, about 1796, and he
was drowned there in 1808. His wid. then went to

western N. Y. and d. Ch. : Martha m. Bev-

erett; Guy; Christopher.
551. ii. Abel Stevens was one of those early inhabitants of P.
who found agreeable pastime and considerable in-
come in hunting and trapping, dealing quite largely
in furs. In the fall of 1782 he made a hunting trip
to northern Vt. in territory claimed by Caughna-
waga Indians. In his rambles he met a hunter of
that tribe, who treated him cordially, professing
great friendship, and invited him to go farther,
where game was more plentiful. They agreed to
spend a week together and divide the furs. It was a
successful expedition, and at the end they divided
as agreed and started home. As they were travel-
ing along a narrow footpath, Abel in the lead, he
heard a gun snap and, turning quickly, saw the In-
dian had treacherously attempted to shoot him, but
the gun had missed fire. Without a moment's delay
Abel lodged the contents of his gun in the Indian's
heart, and, taking the furs of both, proceeded home.
In about a year Abel decided to revisit the same
locality and took an experienced hunting friend with
him. They were quite successful in collecting furs,
but on their return were followed by a party of In-
dians, angry at their trespass and prob. over the loss
of their comrade the year before. At Addison, Ste-
vens stopped at a house to warm himself, and as he
sat by the fire a tall, furious Indian entered and
came at him, saying, "Me come to kill thee." Ste-
vens, who was a very large, athletic man, rose quick-
ly and struck the savage a powerful blow, felling
him to the floor insensible. Our hero and his com-
rade hastened on their return, but, being pursued by
the enemy, turned westward to Ticonderoga for sev-
eral days.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. jgi

The Indians then lost track of them and all turned
back except one, supposed to be he whom Stevens
floored. This savage went on to Pittsford and for
several days lurked in the woods near Stevens'
house.

Our hero returned home in about a week and was
told of the Indian who he knew was seeking per-
sonal vengeance and that his life was in danger.
Stevens' comrade understood Indian tactics and de-
termined to protect his friend. Being well armed,
he went to the woods and lay in ambush several
days. One evening just at twilight he discovered
the tall form of the Indian creeping stealthily along
by the creek toward Stevens' house. He shot the
savage through the heart, then took his gun, powder
horn and bullet pouch with the rings from his ears.
After rolling the body into the creek he returned
with his trophies and the grateful news to the home
of his friend Stevens.

Abel res. in P. about lo yrs. longer, then (1796)
rem. to Canada. He had m. in 1778 Eunice (dau.
of Isaac) Buck. He was of earnest piety and
preached as a Methodist. One acct. says he d. i8i6,
another 1828. Ch.: Abel, d. in Canada i860; Eliza-
beth, Eunice, Uriah went to Ky., Alfred, Isaac,
David B., Horace.
552. ill. Ephraim Stevens was in the campaign against Canada
in 1775. In May, 1779 Ephraim Stevens, at the
head of a party of four from Pittsford, in the ser-
vice of Vt., made a reconnoitering expedition in a
skiff down the western shore of Lake Champlain,
They saw no enemy the first day, but on returning
the day following a body of Indians, Tories and
British arose from ambush on the bank near them
and demanded a surrender. Though within gun
shot Ephraim ordered his men to turn the boat and
row for their lives. The hostile party immediately
jumped into a crazy boat and began the chase with
running fire of musketry. It proved harmless for a
while and our party hoped to escape. At length an
Indian was seen to take deliberate aim, the rifle
flash followed and one of the pursued dropped his
oar, shot through the head, while the skiff, now
propelled by but one oar quickly whirled round and
the little party lay tt the mercy of the enemy. The

l82. THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

dead man was scalped and thrown into the lake and
the other three taken as prisoners to Montreal.
Ephraim was young, of extraordinary strength and
activity, and was claimed by the Indians in the di-
vision of captives. On reaching the St. Lawrence
they continued the trip by boat, and as they ap-
proached the shore near Montreal Ephraim saw a
number of savages arranged in two lines facing
each other with a narrow passage between them
leading to a log house about 50 rods away. As he
stepped ashore he was attacked by them with clubs
and soon knocked down. He protected his head
with his arms and by his great strength soon arose,
when a young squaw pointing to the house cried,
"Run! Run!" He rushed forward and reached it
with little further injury. Thereupon the Indians
threw away their clubs and greeted him with ap-
plause and kindness. The whole Indian village
now gathered for the carousal of such occasions.
The squaws, having hid the warriors' weapons,
passed around the rum in abundance. All drank
freely and urged Ephraim to partake with them.
He, however, drank as little as possible, using much
art to deceive them as to the quantity, being deter-
mined to remain sober and ready for any possible
chance to escape. The carousal ended, most of the
party retired while some from the effects of the
liquor had fallen fast asleep. As morning came an
Indian entered, who had not been there the night
before and fixed his eyes long and keenly on
Ephraim, who recognized the stranger as one of a
company who visited Pittsford before the war and
with whom Ephraim had quarreled. The Indian
soon left and two stout Indians came and stood
guard at the door; and shortly after the young
squaw who had befriended Ephraim the day before
came in with looks of sorrow and even weeping.
Ephraim said, "By this time I made up my mind
that my old acquaintance on Otter Creek was de-
termined to wreak his vengeance on me by a cruel
sacrifice of my life in the barbarous manner the In-
dians are sometimes wont to do. I determined to
place myself in the hands of a less dangerous enemy
or lose my life in the attempt. I looked round for
some weapon but saw none sufHcient to use. I then

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 83

thought I would try and pass the two Indians in a
quiet and peaceable manner as if I wished care-
lessly to view the premises. Slowly and awkward-
ly I approached the door, but one of the Indians
sprang forward, placed his hand on my breast and
shoved me back into the room. I quietly yielded to
his push and made as though I was about to re-
sume my seat ; but as he was returning to the door
I sprang with all my might and threw both pros-
trate on the ground. I flew like lightning through
the door and the young squaw again cried, "Run !
Run !" but I needed no urging this time. In the
midst of my speed I met a small British guard who
had in custody my two companions, B. Stevens and
E. Hopkins. I passed them svi^iftly, their officer
hailed me, told me to stop and I should not be
hurt. I first intended to leave them all, but taking
into view all the circumstances of my situation, I
concluded it would be impossible to escape, and
being promised that I should receive no harm, I re-
turned and surrendered to them." He and his com-
panions were soon taken to the British garrison.
Here he was visited by his bro., Roger Stevens, who
had turned Tory and was then a captain in the
British army. Roger reproved Ephraim for joining
the rebels, and disloyalty to the king. Ephraim re-
torted, accusing Roger of deserting his country,
and cursing the king. Roger promised Ephraim
the liberty of the city if he woul'd give his word not
to leave it. Ephraim spurned the offer with indig-
nation and the three captives were sent to prison.
Here Ephraim for his praise of the Americans and
contemptuous speaking of the king was handcuflFed
and fettered. His great strength enabled him to
break the ordinary iron fetters, and he was soon
loaded down with heavy -irons and with his com-
panions put on board a vessel, sent to Quebec and
there thrown into a dungeon.

Remaining there until fall, they were taken
out under guard to labor in harvesting corn and
grain. They eluded the guard, escaped in a boat
across the river and. pushing through the wilder-
ness, with little to eat but roots and bark of trees,
in 14 days they came in sight of the Green Mts. But
as they were fishing in the headwaters of the Conn.

l84 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

river they were recaptured by Indians and taken
back to prison at Quebec. They were now ironed
under guard commanded to strictest vigilance. But
in a few months our heroes succeeded in replacing
the iron keys in their bolts with pliable pewter ones.
Recovering thus the use of their limbs, they improv-
ed the nights in digging a hole under the prison wall,
which was also the main wall of the city, 12 feet
thick. Under the stone mantel of the prison chim-
ney was an iron bar, which they used in their work
and replaced in the morning, before the keeper came,
who always found them in irons and apparently se-
cure. The dirt and rubbish taken from the walls
was concealed in their bunks and beds made over
it. The prisoners dug to the last stone in the wall
and were waiting a dark night to escape, when one
of the other prisoners, becoming intoxicated, dug
in the daytime and was discovered, so all their labor
was lost. It created much excitement in Q. and
crowds of folks came to see what the Yankees —
covered with chains — had done. Their iron tool was
not discovered.

Ephraim tried to harass the enemy by everything
his active mind and powerful body could do. At
one time the press-gang called at the prison for
volunteers for the British navy. Ephraim declared
he was ready to go, but told his anxious comrades
he would be back within a week. He was taken
on a river vessel whose capt. after showing him over
the ship, asked how he would like to be a sailor.
"First rate," he said, "but the first chance I have I
will put a brand of fire into the magazine and we
will all go up together," and he cursed the king and
all on board. An attempt was made to hang him
to the yard-arm. The rope was put around his neck
and while it was being adjusted our hero shouted,
"Draw away! I will find neck as long as you will
halter! Draw away! You are a set of infernal
cowards! I dare you to hang me, — thousands of
Yankees would be upon the war path ! I curse you
and your king !" In about a week the capt. ordered
this Yankee tartar taken back to the prison, declar-
ing "he would have no such fellow on board his
ship."

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. I85

Theydugtheir way out of the dungeon and elud-
ing the vigilance of the sentinels in the depth of
winter they proceeded up the St. Lawrence on the
ice, traveling in the night and secreting themselves
by day — suffering keenly with cold and hunger.
One bitter cold night Ephraim being a little in ad-
vance of his comrades fell through the ice. He
immediately reinstated himself on the firm ice be-
fore his companions came up, but completely
drenched with water which almost instantly froze,
he knew he must find a fire before morning or per-
ish. This was extremely difficult. The British
government had threatened severe punishment to
any who should aid any escaping prisoners — but
there was no other alternative but death. A farm-
house not far distant was seen, Ephraim approached
it alone, knocked for admission, the inmates were
asleep, he called, told his story, and after much
importunity and pleading of the man's wife he was
admitted at the muzzle of a gun, a fire soon made
and our hero relieved of his sufferings. His com-
panions now joined him and the next night they
proceeded on their way. At length when about a
day's journey from Vt., they lost their way and fell
in with some British, were recaptured and taken
back to their prison in Quebec and there remained
(their fate meanwhile being unknown to their peo-
ple in Pittsford who, supposing them dead, had Elder
Elisha Rich preach their funeral sermon). In June,
1782, Eph's uncle, Benj. Stevens, St., went to white-
hall, where some prisoners were to be exchanged;
and on the first boat which came in were our three
Green Mountain boys. They were at once exchanged
and returned to their families. Each rec'd 40s per
mo. for the time of his captivity and was voted $5.00
by the Gen. Assemb. for the gun he lost when taken
prisoner. [From Vt. Hist. Mag.] At the close of
the war Eph. went to Leicester, Addison Co., mar-
ried, res. west of L. Champlain, and d. in lower
Canada of smallpox. Ch. : Moses R., Christiana,
Rhodian, Polly.

552b. iv. Elihu Stevens m. Lydia Haskins; d. in Canada 1830.

S52C v. Moses Stevens.

552d. vi. Abigail Stevens m. Darius (s. of David) Crippen Nor.
I, 1776. They rem. to Canada about 1795. Darius
was drowned, and Abigail then went to western
N. Y. to res. with a s. and d. there. Ch.: Mary,
Samuel, Betsey, Deborah, Darius.

186 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

164.

floses Doo!itt!e (Lieut. Samuel, Samuel, Abraham), s. of
Lieut. Samuel and Jane (Wheeler) D., was b. at Palmer, Mass.,
Oct. 18, 1732. His name is mentioned in the distribution of his
father's est. in 1738, but not when bro. Ephraim bought out the
heirs in 1750. From all accounts he is believed to be the same

Moses who m. Mary and resided for a time in N. Y.

State. About 1786 they rem. to W. Va. and settled on the
Monongahela river above Morgantown, being among the pioneer
settlers in that section. There in the wilderness they cleared away
the timber and laid out their farm.

CHILD.

553. i. Moses b. in N. Y. State about 1766.
553c. ii. Benjamin b. Nov. 4, 1783.

166.

Abraham Doolittle (Abraham, Samuel, Abraham), s. of
Abraham and Martha (Cornwall) D., of Middletown, Conn.,
where he was b. Oct. 31, 1726. He m. i] Desiah Doud May 31,
1750. She d. Sept. 28, 1775, and he m. 2] Sarah Brockway Aug.
21, 1776, at East Haddani, Ct. Sarah d. Dec. 7, 1779. Abraham m.
3] Mar. 16, 1780, Elizabeth Beckwith, of Lynn. He was then res.
at Middletown. Among their household belongings these Pur-
itans had : pewter plates and porringers, brass andirons, brass
kettles, brass and silver candlesticks, silver spoons, copper stew
pans, iron kettles, a mortar and pestle, high top bedsteads, with
curtains, feather beds, a warming pan and rush bottom chairs.

J. 11.

^ iv.

I. V.

). vi.

). vii.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 87

CHILDREN. (l M.)

554. i. Desiah b. Feb. 2, 1751 ; m. at Cornwall, Ct., Aug. 27,
1770, Seth Higbe. She prob. d. before 1777 when
the 2d dau. by this name was b.
Abraham b. Dec. 24, 1752; d. Nov., 1777.
Jemima b. Nov. 22, 1755.
Martha b. Aug. 19, 1757.
Eunice b. Apr. 28, 1759; d. Sept. 12, 1775.
Sarah b. May 14, 1761.

Joshua b. Apr. 18, 1764; prob. m. at Berlin, Ct., Dec.
27, 1781, Azubah Allen. He was then res. in Mid-
dletown.
561. viii. Lucy b. Aug. 29, 1767.

(2 M.)

562. ix. Desire b. June 11, 1777; d. July 5, 1778.

563. X. Isaac b. Sept. 22, 1778.

168.

Ebenezer Doolittle (Abraham, Samuel, Abraham), s. of
Abraham and Martha (Cornwall) D., of M., was b. June 3, 1730.
He m. Mar. 2, 1758, Margaret Mark, of M., where they set.
Ebenezer prob. m. i] Elizabeth Harris Oct. 15, 1755, at M. She
was a wid. nee Johnson.

CHILDREN.

564. i. (son) twin b. Apr. 24. 1759.

565. ii. (son) twin; both d. in 10 hours.

566. iii. (dau.) b. Apr. 4, 1760; d. in 6 days.

567. iv. (son) b. Nov. 3, 1761 ; d. soon.

568. v. Thompson b. Dec. 9, 1762.

569. vi. Ebenezer b. Dec. 19, 1764.

570. vii. (son) b. Dec. 20, 1767; d. in 2 da.

571. viii. Jesse b. Mar. 14, 1769.

572. ix. Partridge b. Sept. 26, 1771.

l88 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

192.

Seth Doolittle (Joseph, Samuel, Abraham) s. of Joseph and
Mary (Stickland) D. was b. at M. Jan. 21, 1745. He m. Feb.
4, 1768, Hannah Doud of M., where they res.

CHILDREN.

573. i. David b. Apr. 29, 1769.

574. ii. (son) b. May 4, 1770; d. in 3 da.

575. iii. Hannah b. May 31, 1771 ; m. Henry Darling.

576. iv. Seth b. Aug. 10, 1773; d. Aug. 3, 1777.

577. V. Olive b. May 23, 1776; d. Sept. 29, sm. yr.

193-
Abisha Doolittle (Joseph, Samuel, Abraham) s. of Joseph
and Mary (Stickland) D. was b. at M. Feb. 5, 1747. He m. Sibyl
Eggleston Nov. 17, 1774, and sett, at M. on the farm given him
by his father. He built and operated a mill. He d. July 6, 181 1.
She b. Jan. 12, 1752, dau. of Ebenezer and Mary (Lane) E.

CHILD.

578. Amos b. Mar. 31, "^11^-

196.

Joseph H. Doolittle (Joseph, Samuel, Abraham) s. of Joseph
and Mary (Stickland) D. was b. at M. Sept. 28, 1755. He m.

Chilson, who d. in Nov., 1818, a. 64. He was a miller

and millwright by occupation. He grew up with a generation
taught to think and grapple with the toughest of life's problems,
with little regard for self as long as right should triumph. Thus
they fought in the Revol. with greatest determination and bore

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. iSq

up under the losses and hardships with a patriotism deserving of
the glorious reward they won. Joseph served in the Revol. and
drew a pension of $8.00 per month until his death, Nov. 1819, a.
64, at Berlin, Kensington Parish, Ct. (See No. 311.)

His gr. son says in 1820 there were two unm. sis. of Joseph
res. in Ct. named "Molly and Dolly."

579. Joseph Chilson b. Apr. 11, 1793.

198.
Abigail Doollttle (Nathaniel, Samuel, Abraham) dau. of
Nathaniel and Hannah (Foster) D. was b. at M, Mar. 21, 1743;
m. at Cornwall, Conn., Jan, 28, 1762, Samuel Guild of M. and res.
there.

CHILDREN.

580. i. Mary Guild b. Nov. 23, 1762.

581. ii. Artimesus Guild (dau.) b. Dec. 22, 1764.

582. iii. Phelix Guild b. Oct. i, 1766.

583. iv. Syntha Guild b. Nov. 3, 1768.

584. V. Jeremiah Guild b. Nov. 3, 1770.

585. vi. Elinour Evits Guild b. Sept. 19, 1772.

586. vii. Plural Guild (son) b. Apr. 23, 1775; d. Feb. 23, 1776.

202.
Timothy Doolittle (Nathaniel, Samuel, Abraham) s. of Na-
thaniel and Hannah (Foster) D. was b. Feb. 17, 1752, at M. He
enlisted at a private in Col. Van Ness' reg't of N. Y. troops in the
Revol. and later served under Col. Graham of sm. state. He
prob. res. in Sullivan Co., N. Y., on a farm which he owned and
was known as Chancellor Doolittle.

I96 tHfi DOOLITTLE: J-AMtLY.

CHILDREN.

587. Isaac prob. who d. aged 93.

208.
Sarah Doollttle( Isaac, Capt. Joseph, Abraham) dau. of Isaac
and Sarah (Todd) D. of New Haven, was bapt. at Stratford,
Conn., July, 1749; d. July 21, 1832, a. 85, and was buried at New
Haven. She m. Jeremiah (s. of Jeremiah) Parmalee, b. Nov. 29,
1747, d. Mar. 24. 1778. He was a soldier in the Revol. ; Capt. in
Col. Hazen's reg't; wounded at Brandywine; d. of smallpox. He
m. i] Jan. 14, 1767, Abigail Russell, who d. 1767, a. 25.

CHILDREN.

588. i. Wm. Parmalee b. 1771 ; d. Nov. 2, 1794, a. 23.

589. ii. Wealthea Parmalee b. 1775; m. Capt. Benj. Beecher.

He was capt. of first steamboat line between N.
Y. and New Haven. He res. at N. H. and no citi-
zen was better or more favorably known. He d.
1858 a. 84, s. of Eli and Susanna (Kimberly) B., of
N. H. His wid. d. 1863 a. 88. Ch. : Wm. P., Henry,
Grace M., John E., Labin S., Benj., Wealthy A.,
Elizabeth C, Mary, Edward C, Sarah P., Susan,
Julia.

209.

Abigail Doolittle (Isaac, Capt. Joseph, Abraham) dau. of
Isaac and Sarah (Todd) D. of New Haven, was b. Oct. 3, 1749;
d. in West Wallingford Oct. 24, 1794, of yellow fever. She m.
Nov. 17, 1768, Capt. Benj. English, b. Dec. 16, 1742, s. of Benj.
and Sarah (Dayton) E. He was a ship master in New Haven
and engaged in West India and other foreign commerce. In 1801
he was appt. by President Jefiferson custom house officer in N. H.
and held the position till his death, Apr. 19, 1809.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 191

CHILDREN.

590. i. Benjamin English b. Jan. 5, 1770; m. June 9, 1793, Mary

White. He sailed from New London, Ct., as master
of a vessel and was never heard from; lost at sea
1809. Wid. m. (2) Lyman Dowd. Ch. of Benj.:
Hannah.

591. ii. Sarah English b. Nov. 3, 1771 ; d. Mar. 26, 1843; unm.

592. iii. John Todd English b. Aug. 3, 1773; d. at St. Croix of

yellow fever June 19, 1801, unm.

593. iv. Abigail English b. Feb. i, 1776; d. Mar. 12, 1834; m.

Aug. 29, 1802, Immanuel Hopkinson. Ch. : Arabella
Frances, Mary Abigail, Martha Jane, Elizabeth
Ann.

594. v. Mary English b. Jan. 12, 1778; d. Dec. 13, 1845; m.

Nov. 3, 1799, Roswell Brown. Ch. : Charles, Jane,
Benjamin, Maria.

595. vi. Hannah Rebecca English b. Jan. 5, 1780, d. Jan. 29,

1807, a. 27; m. Dec. 7, 1799, Bethuel (s. of Andrew)
Tuttle b. 1779. He m. (2) Jan. 10, 1808, Julia Doo-
little (609), cousin of his first wf. Ch. : Wm., John
Todd, George.

596. vii. Isaac English b. Mar. 9, 1782; d. Oct. 7, 1826; m. July

7^, 1807, Catherine Ross, of New London, Ct. Ch. :
Wm. F., Nathaniel S., Sarah A., Hannah M., Cath-
erine, Julia, Isaac.

597. viii. James English b. July 26, 1784, m. Mar. 29, 1807, Nancy

Griswold. He d. Dec. 2, 1850. Nancy was dau.
of Sam. and Lucy (Phipps) G., b. Aug. 16, 1786,
d. 1867. Ch. : i. Hannah E., ii. Benj., iii. John, iv.
James E., was 3 times elected governor of Conn.;
v. Charles L., vi. Henry, vii. Geo. Doolittle, viii.
Elizabeth H., ix. Nancy M., x. Caroline B. James
E., the fourth son, was b. Mar. 12, 1812, studied
architecture and became a practical builder from
which he branched into an extensive lumber busi-
ness. He owned vessels and exported lumber and
established freight lines, laying the foundation of
his great wealth ; later invested in banking,
real estate and m'f'gs. becoming one of Conn.'s
richest men. He was principal business mgr. of the
New Haven Clock Co., greatest mfgr. in the world;
also pres. of the large Goodyear Rubber Co. In
politics he was on Board of Selectmen many yrs.

192 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

and in Common Council. In 1855 went to legisla-
ture and state senate. 1860-4 was member of Con-
gress— declined nom. for 3d term. He was an
active, conscientious war Democrat. In 1867 and 8
was elected gov. of Conn., being, it is said, the only
Democratic gov. in the U. S. ; again elected in 1870.
In 1868 was prominent in Democratic nat. conven-
tion as a candidate for the presidential nomination.
In 1878 was appt. U. S. senator by the governor to
fill out term of Hon. O. S. Ferry, dec. He was a
champion of education and succeeded in establish-
ing the free school system in Conn. His help and
influence have been a power in aiding higher edu-
cation. As a staunch business man he had few
equals and was unsurpassed as a conscientious,
public spirited, and philanthropic citizen. He m.
Caroline dau. of Timothy Fowler. Ch. : Henry F.

598. ix. Aaron English b. Nov. 25, 1786; d. Nov, 22, 1839, m-

Aug. 9, 1822, Sarah Haynes. Ch. : Hannah R.,
Chas. H., Fred'k N., Sarah E.

599. X. Eli English b. Mar. 9, 1789; m. Sept. 20, 1821, Emily

Stocking. He d. and was buried at Hartford 4
Comers, Vt. Ch. : Fred'k, Jane, Elizabeth.

600. xi. Nathan Frederick English b. Apr. 9, 1792; unm. ; lost

at sea (1814) in brig Aaron.

211.

Thankful DoolittIe( Isaac, Capt. Joseph, Abraham) dau. of
Isaac and Sarah (Todd) D. b. Jan. 21, 1754. She m. at New
Haven, Ct., Feb. 13, 1777, John s. of Daniel and Mehittable
(Brown) Trowbridge, b. June i, 1748. He was a Capt. in the
Revol. war; stationed at West Point; d. in N. Y. City Sept. 7,
1 791, a. 43. Thankful d. Feb. 14, 1827, a. 73.

CHILDREN.

601. i. John Todd Trowbridge b. Oct. 23, 1780; m. Polly
Miles, and d. at Racine, Wis., May 5. 1858, a. 78.
He was capt. of the ship "Thomas" of New Haven.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 193

His was a most eventful life. After himself and
crew were captured by the English and again by
the French, and obtained their liberty, he was finally
taken and confined in the famous "Blackhole" at
Calcutta and afterwards in London. He was freed
in 1815 and returned to N. Y., having been absent
SVi yrs. Just subsequent to his final capture by the
British he recovered upwards of a quarter of a mil-
lion dollars from a sunken vessel off New Holland.
He set. in Rochester, N. Y., in 1816 in commercial
business but rem. to Racine in 1836. "He was a
brave, generous and honest man, in faith and prac-
tice a Christian." Ch. : Henrietta M., John W.
Grace A., Elihu F., Stewart H., Henry W., — all
married.

602. ii. Julia Trowbridge bapt. May 5, 1782; d. Sept. 29, 1783.

603. iii. Chas. E. Trowbridge b. Feb. 27, 1784; m. Mary Bailey,

of Middletown. Ch. : Mary A., Frances C, Eliza-
beth M., Julia E., Chas. E., Harriet A., Augusta S.,
Loudon B., Fred'k W.

604. iv. Elihu Trowbridge bapt. Dec. 17, 1786.

605. V. Julia Trowbridge bapt. 1789.

606. vi. Elias Trowbridge bapt. Oct. 12, 1795; rn. Harriet Hunt-

ington. He followed the West India trade from
1816 to 1829, then rem. to Oswego, N. Y., and en-
gaged in the forwarding trade; d. Sept. 17, 1862.
Ch.: Lewis B., John P., Chas. F., Alfred C,
Fred'k E.

213.

Isaac Doolittle (Isaac, Capt. Joseph, Abraham) was s. of
Isaac and Sarah (Todd) D., b. in 1759. He m. Dec. 7, 1780,
at Cheshire, Ct., Desire, dau. of Matthew Bellamy and sis. of the
distinguished Rev. Dr. Bellamy of Bethlehem, Conn. They set.
in Cheshire. He d. 182 1.

CHILDREN.

Harriet b. 1782.

Isaac b. 1784.

Julia b. 1786; m. Bethucl Tuttle (595)-

Elizabeth b. Aug. 3, 1791 ; m. Wm. Dwight.

Sarah.

John b. 1795. d. 1815.

607.

608.

ii.

609.

iii.

610.

iv.

611.

v.

612.

vi.

194 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

2l8.

Joseph Doolittle (Joseph, Capt. Joseph, Abraham) s. of
Joseph and Mary (Munson) D., was b. at W. Jan. 15, 1757. He
m. Jan. 27, 1780, Sarah, dau. of Nathaniel and Alice (Hall) Hart.
They res. in North Haven. He d. Feb. 25, 1814, a. 57. She d.
Nov. 14, 1826, a. 67. They were buried at W. On his grave-
stone, besides the date of his death, are the following words : "An
affectionate husband and parent." He was first selectman elected
in North Haven in 1812.

Apr. 7, 1800, Joseph Doolittle of North Haven and Joel and
Reuben Doolittle of W. bought of the heirs of Joshua Doolittle
Waterman, deceased, for $2,000, 140 acres at W. This land was
formerly owned by Joshua Doolittle (69) and bounded east part-
ly on Joel and Reuben Doolittle (220 and 222), partly on Oliver
Dooolittle (287) and partly on Joseph Doolittle (218), and south
on Joel and Reuben D. He was elected to the General Assembly
from North Haven in 1801, and continued to serve his town in
this office during the following 12 yrs.

CHILDREN.

613. i. Jared.

614. ii. Nathaniel b. Dec. 25, 1787.

615. iii. Ira.

616. iv. Mary m. Oliver Deming.

220.

Joel Doolittle (Joseph, Capt. Joseph, Abraham) s. of Joseph
and Mary (Munson) D. was b. at W. Jan. 7, 1761. He m. Feb.
22, 1787, Lois (dau. of Nathaniel) Hart, sis. of his bro. Joseph's

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 95

wf. They res. at W. Joel and Joseph Doolittle leased the grist
mill at Quinnipiac; also May 12, 1784, Dr. Walter Munson leased
the right to them and to their heirs for 500 years for £20 to erect
a fulling mill on the same stream. In fulling mills woolens were
dyed, fulled, sheared and pressed. Plain linens were made at
home, often by itinerant weavers who were in great demand
and engaged months ahead. The colonists were never sparing
in their labors and would usually bleach their linen 30-40 times to
reach their ideal immaculate whiteness.

Joel d. Aug. 6, 1825, a. 65. Lois d. Nov. 18, 1851, a. 90.
Their gravestones are standing in the W. cemetery.

CHILDREN.

617. i. Alfred b. Oct. 2, 1789; d. Jan. 6, 1878.

618. ii. Lucy b. July i, 1795; d. aged abt. 9 yr.

222.

Reuben Doolittle (Joseph, Capt. Joseph, Abraham) s. of
Ensign Joseph and Mary (Munson) D., b. at W. Aug. 6, 1765.
He m. Mar. 12, 1789, Betsey dau. of Capt. Ithamar and Rhoda
(Barnes) Tuttle of North Haven. They res. at W. Reuben d.
June 7, 1842. Betsey d. June 11, 1840, a. 70. Their gravestone
stands in the cemetery at W. They were farmers in south-west
part of W.

CHILDREN.

619. i. Almon b. July 29, 1790.

620. ii. Rufus b. May 7, 1793-

621. iii. Rhoda b. Jan. 7, 1805 ; m. Augustus Hall.

196 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

234-

Jcrusha DooliUle (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Abraham) dau. of
Ebenezer and Lydia (Warner) D. was b. at Cheshire, Conn., Feb.
26, 1731. She m. Barnabas Lewis Mar. 10, 1753.

622. Benoni Lewis.

235-

Eli Doolittle (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of Ebenezer
and Lydia (Warner) D. was b. Sept. 28, 1733, at C. He m.
May 10, 1758, Ruth Hill and sett, in W. Eli was bapt. in the
Congregational Church in C. in 1773, in which parish they prob.
res'd. The absence of many things we feel essential was not no-
ticed then, being unknown. Tea, coflfee and chocolate appeared
about 1700. Cider and home brewed beer had been used from
the start. Raised bread was hardly known in early days as
leaven, souring with heat and unfitted by cold, was hard to keep
between bakings. Pantries were not built in the houses which
followed the log cabins. In earliest times chests were used as
seats — the chairs were given to the aged and infirm. Wooden
dishes, even gourds and saucer-like shells were used by the poor-
er people, and pewter by the more thrifty. A table service of it
was looked on as an appropriate and elegant wedding gift.

CHILDREN.

623. i. Jerusha b. May i, 1759.

624. ii. Aseneth b. June 23, 1760; d. Nov. 13, 1760.

626.

iv.

627.

V.

628.

vi.

629.

vii.

630.

viii.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 97

625. iii. Moses b. Feb. 20, 1762; bapt. at Cong. chh. in C,
1767; d. Nov. 6, 1825, a. 57; buried at C. He m.
Huldah Hill at C. Jan. 19, 1800, and prob. res. over
west of C. at Moss Farms.

Sarah b. Feb. 9, 1764.

Aseneth b. Apr. 13, 1766; m. Asa Hitchcock.

Lucena.

Ruth bapt. at Cong. chh. in C. 1770.

Elizabeth b. Nov. 25, 1772; bapt. 1772; d. Nov. 25, 1775.

236.

Ruth Doolittle (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Abraham) dau. of
Ebenezer and Lydia (Warner) D. of C. was b. Aug, 20, 1735.
She m. Samuel Brooks of W. Jan. 10, 1760.

CHILD.

631a. i. Reuben Brooks b. Oct. 19, 1763. In early life he
served in the Revol., m. (i) Nov. 18, 1784, Rocksa
Pritchard. He m. (2) about 1809 Esther Clark.
He res. many years at Pittsfield, Mass., and d. there.
Ch. (i) m. : John, Polly, Rebekah, Rocksa, Reuben,
Lyman, Lydia d. y., Ashahel, Mauna M., Lydia 2 d.,
Calvin, Otis ; (2) m. : Henry L., James L., Sophia
H., Samuel Doolittle [became a physician and sett.
in Springfield, Mass., where, in his 87th yr., he res.
(Aug., '02,) with his only living ch., Lawton S., a
practicing physician, and is highly esteemed. He
m. July 13, 1843, Eliza J. Stickney] ; Horatio H.,
Thomas L. [the only one living beside Samuel D.
(above), res. at Pittsfield], Sarah A., Reuben,
Chauncey.

631b. ii. Merub Brooks b. Aug. 22, 1770.

631c. iii. Samuel Brooks b. Mar. 27, 1773.

igS THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

237.

Ebenezer Doolittle (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of
Ebenezer and Lydia (Warner) D. was b. at C. Oct. 12, 1736. He
m. June 7, 1762, Lucy Hall. They owned and occupied the farm
in Cheshire on which his father and grandfather had lived. This
property was prob. later owned by Londa Bristol. Feb. 8, 1773,
Ebenezer and Lucy deed a piece of land in W. to one Capt. Joshua
Hall of that place. Ebenezer Doolittle enlisted in the Revol. in
4th Conn, reg't in 1782. Later he served with 1st reg't Nov. i-
Dec. 31, 1782. Lucy d. at C. May 3, 1803, a. 59, and he m 2]

Olive . He was admitted to the Con. chh. at C. in 1784.

His wf. was admitted July 7, 1805. Ebenezer d. Oct. i, 1807, a.
71, and is buried at C. His will probated Nov. 5, sm. yr., names
wf. Olive ; gives $200 to dau. Lucy before any division is made.
The remainder of est. is to be divided among ch. : Elkanah, Lucy,
Eliphan, Azubah, Alice, Amaryllis and the heirs of s. Benajah
(deceased). Londa Bristol, exr.

CHILDREN.

632. i. Benajah Hall b. Dec. 20, 1764; d. before 1805; left

family.
Elkanah b. Mar. 15, 1767.
Fanny, m. Londa Bristol at C. Dec. 23, I795-
Ebenezer b. abt. 1770, d. May 25, 1806, a. 36; buried at C.
Lucy b. Oct. 3, 1772, prob. m. at C. Mar. 23, 1794,

Lemon Judson.
Amzi d. Oct. 10, 1775. a. 7 yrs.
Eliphan b. June 27, 1776, bapt. at C. 1776; d. in New

York with the smallpox by inoculation May 18,

1797, a. 21.

639. viii. Azubah b. Apr. 26, 1778; bapt. at Cong, church sm. yr. ;
admitted to that church 1833; d. at C. Oct. il, 1846,
a. 69. On her gravestone is: "For if ye believe
that Christ died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."

640. ix. Alice (called Else) b. Jan. I, 1780; bapt. sm. yr.; m.
Richardson Hull at C. Sept. 21, 1808.

641. X. Amaryllis bapt. at Cong, church in C. 1782; m. Moses
Peck at C. Apr. 19, 1800.

633.

ii.

634-

iii.

635.

iv.

636.

V.

637.

vi.

638.

vii.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 1 99

238.

Ensign Jesse Doo!ittle(Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of
Ebenezer and Lydia (Warner) D. of C, was b. Aug. 12, 1738.
He m. Mary Chub Feb. 10, 1760. She d. Mar. 2, 1819, a. 82.
They res. for a time in New Hartford, but rem. in 1777 to Win-
chester, Ct., and bought of Stephen Chub, Jr., the mill lot reserved
by the proprietor at Still River Falls, where some years ago the
clock factory was located, and the land adjoining it on the east
side of the river. One of the two incorporated grist mills of Win-
chester supposed to have been built about 1777 stood on the west
side of Still River just south of the stone bridge. It was owned
and operated for many years by Ensign Jesse Doolittle and was
carried off by a flood in 1800. His house was burned, after which
he rebuilt on the same site and res. there until his d. Feb. 9, 1793,
a. 55. This home was more recently known as the Asoph place
house, but some years ago was taken down and rem.

June 5, 1778, Jesse Doolittle (recorded as of New Hartford)
deeds to Ebenezer Doolittle (237) of W. 10 acres and 73 rods of
land in W. and parish of New Cheshire; consideration iiio.
Nov. 15, 1778, he deeds two other pieces of land in same locality
to Ebenezer for i6oo.

CHILDREN.

642. i. Jesse.

643. ii. Ruth (prob.) who m. Chauncey Mills.

644. iii. Zerah.

645. iv. Mary b. abt. 1767; m. Nathan Wheeler.

646. V. Lyman b. June 5, 1779.

200 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

242.

Thomas Doolittfe (Moses, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of Moses
and Lydia (Richardson) D. of W., was b. Feb. 14, 1730, and d.
of the "great sickness" Nov. 19, 1760. He m. Feb. 20, 1753,
Lois (dau. of Dr. John) Hull (see No. 243). They res. near
Cheshire St. in Cheshire. His children are mentioned in the will
of his father in 1777. Wid. Lois m. 2] Dec. 3, 1761, Nathaniel
Roys, being his 2d wf. Thomas is buried in old cemetery at C.

CHILDREN.

647. i. Lois b. Mar. 28, 1754, m. Col. Reuben Roys.

648. ii. Lucy b. Apr. g, 1757; m. Capt. Thomas Moss.

649. iii. Abigail b. Dec. 15, 1759; m. Caleb Todd at C. Jan. 22,

1778.

243.

Hannah Doolittle (Moses, Ebenezer, Abraham) dau. of
Moses and Lydia (Richardson) D. of Cheshire, b. Nov. 7, 1732.
She m. at C. Mar. 28, 1749, Dr. Zephanias Hull. He was eldest
son of Dr. John and Sarah H. of same place and was b. Aug. 15,
1728, on the land given to Dr. John Hull in 1687. (Dr. John was
s, of Dr. Benjamin and gr. s. of Dr. John Hull.) They res. at
Bethlehem where he was a great friend of the celebrated Dr.
Bellemy, and recognized as a man of high character and great in-
fluence both as physician and citizen.

Dr. Zephanias and Hannah both d. Nov. 10, 1760, of the
"great sickness" and were buried in one grave. Two of their
children d. the same day. Their dau. Lydia used to tell the fol-
lowing peculiar story [see Barbers Hist, of Conn.].: Soon after

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 20I

her parents' death a flock of quail flew over the garden and all
fell to the grass. In a few minutes 3 arose and flew away; the
rest died. The family looked on it as a prophetic sign when only
3 of all the family who were sick at the time recovered.

At Hannah's death her father, Moses Doolittle, rode over to
Bethlehem and brought her little s., Andrew Hull, then 6 yr. old,
back with him on horseback to his home in Cheshire, at Moss
Farms [property now owned by Hanford Smith], and brought
him up.

CHILDREN.

650. i. Lydia Hull b. 1749; d. 1750.

651. ii. Titus Hull b. Mar. 25, 1751, at Bethlehem; was a sur-

geon in the Revol. ; rem. to Danbury, Ct., 1805,
afterward to N. Y. State 1807. He m. (i) Lucy
Parmalee; had 2 ch. who d. in infancy. She d. 1776.
He m. (2) Mrs. Olive (Lewis) Parmalee 1778, wid.
of Abraham. He d. in N. Y. State. Ch. : i. Laur-
ens, a prom, physician of Oneida Co., N. Y. ; ii.
Althea, m. Truman Hill ; iii. Chas., a physician in
Oneida Co., N. Y., had a son and 3 daus. ; iv. Betsey,
m. E. Hinsdale, of Le Roy, N. Y. ; v. Elias, capt. in
war 1812, later brig, gen'l. of N. Y. State militia;
afterwards res. in Alabama, a lawyer, d. 1865; vi.
Lucy Olive, m. Ezra Starr; vii. Olive E., m. Col.
Elijah Morse; viii. Andrew Clark, first judge of Al-
legheny Co. for 5 yr., also held other high offices,
m. Betsey Morse, d. 1876; ix. Leverett a minister,
d. 1852; X. Rufus Lewis.

652. iii. Lydia Hull b. 1753; m. (i) J. Judson, 1769; (2)

Amasa Clark and left descendants.

653. iv. Andrew Hull b. 1754; called Squire; m. Naomi (dau.

of Belah) Lewis, 1776. He res. with his grand-
father, Moses Doolittle, till the latter's death when
Andrew inherited the Doolittle property and res.
there till his own death, 1824. Andrew was sent to
36 different sessions of the legislature from 1788-
1815, and held many other important offices, was a

202 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY,

man of great independence, and of prompt decision
and action. Naomi and Andrew both at a. 70 d.
1824. Ch. : Naomi m. Capt. Wm. Brown, of N. H. ;
Eudocia m. Hon. Sam. A. Foote, who became gov-
ernor of Conn.

654. V. Hannah Hull b. 1757; d. Nov. 10, 1760, of the "great

sickness."

655. vi. Sarah Hull b. 1759; d. Nov. 10, 1760, the same day as

parents.

244.

Eunice Doolittle (Moses, Ebenezer, Abraham) dau. of Moses
and Lydia (Richardson) D. of C, was b. Oct. 17, 1734; m. David
Hotchkiss Dec. 25, 1752; res. in C. They had 6 boys and 7 girls.

250.

Lydia Doolittle (Moses, Ebenezer, Abraham) dau. of Moses
and Ruth (Hill) D. of C. prob. m. Jeremiah Arnold and res. at
Middletown, Conn.

CHILD.

656. i. Abigail Arnold. (Middletown record says "Lydia.")

256.

Amos Doolittle (Caleb, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of Caleb and
Tamar (Thompson) D., was b. at C. Jan. 5, 1735. He m. Apr. 4,
1760, Abigail Ives, poss. sis. of bro. Benjamin's wf. Lydia and
dau. of Joel Ives. They sett, on a farm in south-west part of C.
This property is now (1901) owned by the heirs of another
Amos Doolittle ( ) .

In those dark times when the awful storm of revolution was
gathering excitement ran high and party lines were sharply

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 203

drawn. It is said that Amos' conservatism caused him to side
with Loyalists and later to become a pronounced Tory. During
the struggle of the colonies for independence the law permitted
the shooting of any known adherent to the king if found away
from his own residence. Here we catch a glimpse of the horrible
nature of civil war. We cannot fully conceive it. It was too
long ago. The perspective is too far drawn. The images are
indistinct. Let the imagination bring the objects close and the pic-
ture becomes nearly real. Here you see those who have been kind
and agreeable neighbors — yes, more than that — those who were
brought up around one hearthstone — here they stand guns loaded,
liable to hear at any moment the command to discharge their dead-
ly weapons at one another's breasts, and worst of all, are ready
to do it. Amos' home was on the east side of the road south of
where T. A. Cook res. and a short distance north of the
brook. It is said that in those days of excitement a "neighbor"
could frequently be seen with a gun on his shoulder marching to
and fro in the field adjoining Mr. D.'s down by the road waiting
a chance to shoot him as he climbed over the wall off of his prop-
erty to gather the hickory nuts which fell over from his tree.
However, no serious trouble occurred and Amos lived more than
a quarter of a century to enjoy true national life, and we may
hope became as ardent a supporter of the new gov't as he had
been conscientious in adhering to his king.

He made his will in Jan, 1803, which was probated Apr. 7,
1807. It gives to his wid., also the daus., Abigail A. Hull, Lois
Humiston and Olive Bradley and s. Amos. Amos Doolittle and
Jesse Humiston, both of C, exrs. Amos sr. d. Mar. 23, 1807, a.
72. His wid. d. July 28, 1827, a. 88. Both are buried in the
Episcopal burying ground in C.

204 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

CHILDREN.

658.

ii.

659.

iii.

660.

iv.

661.

V.

657. i. Olive b. Mar. 30, 1761 ; m. at Cheshire Dec. 17, 1778,

Amos Bradley, of Hamden, Ct.
Lois b. Sept. 13, 1763; m. Jesse Humiston.
Abigail Ann b. Jan. 27, 1766; m. Samuel Hull.
Amos b. 1767.
Jotham Ives b. Dec. 6, 1773; grad. at Yale in 1795;

d. unm. Apr. 14, 1799, a. 26, while teaching in the

South. A tombstone to his memory is standing in

the old cemetery at C.

257.

Tamar Doolittle (Caleb, Ebenezer, Abraham) dau. of Caleb
and Tamar (Thompson) D., was b. at C. Aug. 12, 1736. She
was m. to Samuel Hitchcock s, of Capt. Benjamin and Elizabeth
(Ives) H. b. Apr. i, 1739. They sett, in Southington, Ct. In
1767 he was of Farmington, Ct. He d. May 8, 1798. She d. Dec.
7, 1716, a. 80.

CHILDREN.

662. i. Samuel Hitchcock b. Feb. 27, 1757; m. Mary (dau. of

Lent) Munson Apr. 17, 1780; she b. 1756, d. 1826.
He res. in Southington. He climbed the steeple of
the old church at one time by aid of the lightning
rod. He was soldier in Revol. and taken prisoner.
Ch. : Sophronia, Lent (a fine picture of him on pg.
171 Hitchcock Genealogy. He m. and had 9 ch.) ;
Franklin, Samuel (m. and had 6 ch.), Beriah,
Polly.

663. ii. Caleb Hitchcock b. May 17, 1760; m. (i) 1784, prob.

Ada Malory, who d. 1808 ; m. (2) 1809 Julia Thorpe,
dau. of John of Southington ; he was sea capt. and
d. Mar. 16, 1826. Wid. d. 1851 a. 72.

664. iii. Elizabeth Hitchcock b. Dec. 29, 1763; m. Lines Thorpe.

665. iv. Tamar Hitchcock bapt. Aug. 25, 1765 ; m. Thomas

Cowles as 2d wf. She d. Kensington, Ct., July 10,
185s, a. 90. Ch. : Tamar, Sophia, Nancy, Rhoda,
Wm., Olevia, Lucinda.

666. V. Esther Hitchcock, m. Nov. 11, 1798, Barnabas Powers.

She d. Sept. 20, 1802.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 205

258.

Capt. Benjamin DooHttle (Caleb, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of
Caleb and Tamar (Thompson) D. of C, was b. Mar. 5, 1738. He
laid out and settled a 150 acre farm in C. half a mile west of the
village. This property was just beyond the railroad on the Corn-
wall road; his home stood on the s. w. corner at the cross roads
there, both of which highways he laid out. The house and other
buildings are now gone, but the old well and some of the apple
trees he set out still remain about a depression in the earth and
mark the spot these people once called home. It is said when he
came to clear this locality he dug out a rude temporary dwelling
in the neighboring hillside till he could build his house. He m.
Nov. 20, 1765, Lydia Ives, who was b. 1742, d. May 3, 1823,
a. 81. She was prob, dau. of Joel Ives of C. They were thrifty
farmers, raised grain and sheep and owned part interest in a cider
mill.

The original home lot and a portion of the farm are still in
the possession of one of his descendants, Mr. Frederick DooHttle
of Cheshire.

One fall Benj. and wf. made the long trip of 70 miles on
horseback to visit relatives in Mass., the wf. riding on a pillion
behind her husband. As they were about ready to start home, a
severe storm was seen approaching and they rode all the 70 miles
home in one day. That same night a snow-storm set in which
lasted until their house was covered up to the roof and they were
shut in four weeks or more. It was a time of great suffering in
many families — some having to burn their furniture to keep warm.
Nov., 1763, Lucius DooHttle (134) of Northfield, Mass., deeded

206 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

land in Wallingford, Ct., to Benj. Doolittle. It is quite possible
that it was to arrange this transaction that Benj. and wf. made
the fall journey.

Benj. was taken ill while choping down a large oak and d.
soon after. This same oak now forms the south sill of Fred'k
Doolittle's house just west of C. Lydia m. 2] Apr. 6, 1808,
Daniel Button.

Benj. was drafted in the Revol. He may have served also
in the old French and Indian war. His wf. remained on the farm
and to her fell the work of attending to the harvest while he had
to proceed to Ft. George. He d. Aug. 3, 1802, a. 65, and is b. in
the old cemetery at C. On his tombstone besides dates, etc., is :

"Then let surviving children hear

A pious father's call.
Hark from the tomb prepare to die

And make my God your all."

Just above this is "Lydia Button, formerly consort of Benjamin
Doolittle, d. May' 3, 1823." Dec. 15, 1802, Joseph Ives Doolittle
of C. (being exr. of will of Capt. Benj. Doolittle, late of Cheshire);
presented same for probate. It names wid. Lydia, and following
ch. : Benj., Joseph I. (£300 each), Hannah, Acheah, and Lydia.
Inv. £2136.

CHILDREN.

667. i. Lydia b. Aug. 17, 1766, d. y.

668. ii. Hannah b. Oct. i, 1767; m. Samuel Doolittle (365)-

669. iii. Acheah (called Axle) ; m. Jared Ives.

670. iv. Benjamin b. Feb. 10, 1771.

671. V. Joseph Ives b. Sept. 6, 1772.

672. vi. Lydia b. Sept. 20, 1774; d. Oct. 31, 1777-

673. vii. Lydia, m. Lent Moss.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

207

261.

Caleb Doolittle (Caleb, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of Caleb and
Tamar (Thompson) D. of C, was b. Dec. 5, 1744. He m. Han-
nah and sett, on a farm which has more recently been

known as the Julius Brooks farm in the north-west part of Ham-
den, Conn., called Westwood. Their descendants are said to be
quite numerous around Bethany, Ct., but many have other names
than Doolittle.

CHILDREN.

674.

i.

Reuben.

675.

ii.

Caleb.

676.

iii.

Jesse d. Aug. 22, 1776, in his 2d yr. His gravestone
stands in Mt. Carmel cemetery and bears the fol-
lowing inscription: "Time is short, eternity is
long."

677.

iv.

Jesse.

678.

V.

Tamar, m. Wooden.

263.

Hannah Doolittle (Caleb, Ebenezer, Abraham) a twin dau.
of Caleb and Tamar (Thompson) D., was b. at C. Apr. 7, 1746;
m. David Hitchcock, bro. of her sis. Tamar's husband (257), He
was b. June 29, 1742. In 1767 they res. at Farmington, but pre-
viously in Southington, Ct., on what is now known as the Ransom
Frisbee place in s. w. pt. of town. He was a minute man and
served in the R^vol. At town meeting in C. in 1780 David Hitch-
cock was appt. on "a committee for hiring the soldiers to fill up
the Continental army for the term of three years, or during the
present war." "When the British fleet entered New Haven har-

208 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

bor minute guns were fired to alarm the neighboring towns.
David Hitchcock was cutting rye. Hearing the guns he left his
cradle in the swarth. Going home he was soon ready and on his
way to New Haven." (Southington Records.) He d. July 17,
1814, at his home in C. Wid. Hannah d. Dec. 21, 181 5.

CHILDREN.

679. i. Phebe Hitchcock b. Nov. 27, 1766; m. Mar. 23, 1786,

Solomon Rugg, a miller. They res. 1804 in South-
ington. She d. 1834.

680. ii. Hannah Hitchcock b. Aug. 4, 1768; d. in Sherman, N.

Y., Nov. 24, 1852, a. 84; m. Oct. 29, 1791, Moses
Dutton, of Southington, s. of Joseph. Ch. : Hannah
b. 1801, m. Willis Hinsdale. Their dau. Elizabeth
was an artist, m. C. T. Bateman and d. in Toledo,
1892.

681. iii. Mary Ann Hitchcock b. June 14, 1770; m. Oct. 23,

1791, David Frost. Ch. : Naomi, Levi B., Lucy,
David H., Martha, Patty, Sylvester, Polly.

682. iv. Lucy Hitchcock m. Mark Lewis.

683. v. David Hitchcock b. 1774; d- Oct. 30, 1778.

684. vi. Lydia Hitchcock b. Aug. 4, 1777; m. Dec. 12, 1796,

Herman Hall.

685. vii. Micah Hitchcock b. Dec. 1778; d. 1779.

686. viii. Martha Hitchcock b. Oct. 29, 1780; m. Oct. 18, 1802,

Selah Upson. They res. at Southington in 1803.
She d. Dec. 31, 1863.

687. ix. Abigail Hitchcock bapt. Apr. 27, 1783; m. before 1804

Eli Pratt and d. 1851 a. 68.

688. X. Lois Hitchcock b. Jan. 25, 1786; m. Apr. 27, 1809, Ran-

som Frisbie.

265.

Joseph DooIittIe( Caleb, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of Caleb and
Tamar (Thompson) D. of C, was b. Apr. 30, 1751. He set. west
of the village of C. ; m. Sarah Hotchkiss Dec. 8, 1773 at C. They
owned a farm in what is now Prospect, Ct. She d. May 23, 1776,
Joseph m. 2] Hannah Chatterton at C. Mar. 26, 1777. Coin often
was scarce and corn with other produce was often used as barter.
Just previous to the Revol. the following were prices paid by our
ancestors : , , :

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY, 209

Shoes, 6s per pr. Man's labor, 2-33 per day.

Pewter spoons, 7s per doz. Geese, 2s each.

Felt hats, 6s 6p each. Clams, 2s per bu.

Beaver hats, £1 lOs each. Red beans, 4s 6d per bu.

Leather breeches, 2s per pr. Flaxseed, 6s 6d per bu.

Brick, £s per 1000. Com, 3s 6d per bu.

Cider, 6s per bbl. Wheat, 4s sd per bu.

A week's spinning, 4s. Rye, 3s per bu.
Oats, IS 6d per bu.

CHILDREN. (l M.)
689. i. Asa b. Oct. 18, 1775.

(2 M.)

27. Buried in

266.

Ephraim DooJittle (Caleb, Ebenezer, Abraham) s. of Caleb
and Tamar (Thompson) D., b. at C. June 15, 1754. He settled
on a farm in the s. w. district of C. He also owned the property
known as Gaylords Mills. He was a man of considerable prom-
inence ; m. Christiana Thorpe, who, after his death, m. Thaddeus
Rich. Ephraim d. Oct. 4, 1798, a. 45. His will was presented
for probate in Nov. 1798, by his wid. and Andrew Hull. She d.
Sept. 28, 1841, a. 89, and is buried by the side of Ephraim in old
cemetery at C. Ephrain's will mentioned wf. Christiana and chil-
dren, Rispah and Julia. He res'd in C. at his father's homestead
after the latter's death. His name is among those granted ear
marks for cattle in Cheshire.

690.

ii.

Sarah b. Apr. 19, 1778.

691.

iii.

Anna b. May 4, 1780; d. Oct. 3, 1807,
old cemetery at C.

692.

iv.

Lyman b. Jan. 20, 1782.

693.

V.

Joseph b. Aug. 9, 1786.

2IO THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY,

CHILDREN.

694. i. Rispah (son) eldest, d. in C. Feb. 17, 1843, a. 50; bur-

ial in Cong. cem. at C.

695. ii. Julia d. in C. Mar. 24, 1803, a. 8 yrs.

696. iii. Ephraim d. Jan. 6, 1808, a. 6 yrs. and is buried with

sis. (above).

256.

Daniel Doolittle (Daniel, Daniel, Abraham) s. of Daniel and
Elizabeth (Dayton) D. of North Haven, Ct., was b. Nov. 10,
1 74 1. He m. i] Miss Abigail Johnson. They res. about i^^
miles south of W. on the road to New Haven and reared their
large family of 20 ch. — the first 7 being born within the period
of 7 yr. and 10 mo. His descendants are numerous in Hamden,
Wallingford, New Haven, North Haven and Mt. Carmel Centre,
Conn., while many went to Vt. and other states. All are said to
have the high regard of their fellow citizens.

In 1775 Daniel was Ensign of his company (Comp. 10 of
reg't I, and served May i-Dec. i, 1775) See at end of No. 106
for record of Revolutionary service in ist reg't under Gen.
Wooster. In 1779 Daniel's name appears as a minute man on the
alarm list and militia in parish of North Haven. These were lo-
cally known as the "household bands."

He m. 2] Rebecca , prob. a sis. of his first wf. At

the time of the persecution of the Baptists in New Eng. about
1754 when his first wf. Abigail was a girl, she was taken from
her home near W. with her sis. in the night and carried off to
New Haven in a cart where they were shut up in jail on the charge
of "worshiping God contrary to the law." In 1792 Johnson and
Michael Doolittle of W. and Daniel Doolittle of Hamden sell
land in W. near Johnson Doolittle's to their father Daniel.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 2 1 1

Jan. 9, 1796, Daniel Doolittle of North Haven rec'd land in
W. near Johnson Doolittle's land from his children Giles, Nathan
and Rebecca Doolittle, then residents of Hamden, Ct. Daniel sr.
d. Dec. 17, 1808. Widow Doolittle's dowry distributed 1809;
names heirs in following order : Giles, Johnson, Sarah Chatterton,
Daniel, Michael, Rebecca Russell, Nathan, Abigail Hinman,
Rhoda Woolcot, Isaac, Mary Hamlin, John, Stephen, Lois Phelps,
Elizabeth, Abraham, Jacob. In olden times a numerous posterity
was a thing to be desired ; and the results of change in climate and
surroundings which make a race more prolific is seen among them.
Families of over 20 ch. were not rare, but many infants d. as the
stock was slow in becoming acclimated to the rigorous climate.
The old homestead in which one or more of the Daniels of this
line dwelt was still standing near North Haven a few years ago,

CHILDREN.

697. i. Giles b. Dec. 28, 1763; m. at New Haven, Ct., Nov. 12,
1797, Emilia Thomas; res. 1803 at W.

Isaac b. Nov. 21, 1764; prob. d. y.

Johnson b. Nov. 10, 1765; res. 1803 in W.

Sarah b. Mar. 26, 1767; m. David Chatterton and res.
1803 in Wallingford, Vt.

Daniel b. Oct. 27, 1768; res. 1803 in Hamden, Ct.

Michael b. Apr. 16, 1770; res. 1803 in W.

Rebecca b. Nov. 7, 1771 ; m. Benjamin Russell, and res.
1803 in Wallingford, Vt.

Nathan b. Feb. 16, 1774; res. 1803 in Wallingford, Vt.

Abigail twin; m. Hinman.

Rhoda twin; m. Woolcot. They res in W. She

had at least one son. He went to Ohio.
707. xi. Isaac prob.; mentioned in 1809 in distribution of
mother's dowry. It is prob. he was the Isaac Doo-
little who res. in Vt. in Oct., 1828, and signed peti-
tion to legislature. In 1834 he res. in Bennington
Co., Vt., and petitioned legislature for a county poor

698.

ii.

699.

iii.

700.

iv.

701.

v.

702.

vi.

703.

vii.

704.

viii.

705-

ix.

706.

X.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

house which was granted. He also petitioned same
body "for an alteration of the law authorizing list-
ers to tax persons for their faculty."

708. xii. Mary m. Luke Hamlin.

709. xiii. John twin; prob. set. in Vt. and his name appears on

the petition to the legislature with his bro. Isaac's
in Oct., 1828. He m. a dau. of David Brooks, of
W. and may have res. there for a time.

710. xiv. Stephen twin. He m. and res. at W. abt. 1850, but

prob. had no ch.

711. XV. Lois m. Phelps; res. at W. abt. 1850 and had a

number of ch.

712. xvi. Elizabeth.

713. xvii. Abraham.

714. xviii. Hannah, prob. d. before 1809 as she was not named in

mother's will.

715. xix. Jacob.

716. XX. Ruth, prob. d. before 1809.

287.

Oliver Doolittle (Daniel, Daniel, Abraham) s. of Daniel and
Elizabeth (Dayton) D. of North Haven, Conn., was b. Oct. 14,
1742. He m. Jan. 16, 1775, Lois Cook, dau. of Benjamin and
Hannah (Munson) C. of W., where they set. on the west side of
the river near the old Doolittle Bridge. He served in the Revol.
in 1778, under Capt. Norton, as private. (See No. 311.) He d.
Mar. II, 1833, a. 91. Lois was b. Feb. 13, 1752, and d. Jan. 26,
1839, a. jy. Their gravestones stand in the cemetery at W. The
name of Oliver Doolittle appears in the list of grantees at Georgia,
N H., Aug. I, 1763.

CHILDREN.

717. i. Kezia b. Nov. 20, 1775.

718. ii. Elizabeth b. Sept. 8, 1777; d. May 4, 1815, a. 38.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 213

John DooJittle (Daniel, Daniel, Abraham) s. of Daniel and
Elizabeth (Dayton) D., was b. at North Haven Jan. 15, 1747. He
m. Patience Doolittle (227) at W. Nov. 9, 1775. She was b. at
W. May 4, 1756, dau. of Enos and Mary (Doolittle, 96) Doolit-
tle. He d. Jan. 26, 1828, a. 81 ; Patience d. Mar. 31, 1828, a, 72.
They are buried at Wallingford, Conn. He was prob. in the
Revol. May 6 to Dec. 20, 1775, being at the siege of Boston under
Capt. Benedict Arnold. See No. 311.

290.

Elizabeth Doolittle (Daniel, Daniel, Abraham) dau. of Daniel
and Elizabeth (Dayton) D. of North Haven, was b. May 26, 1749.
She was m. Jan. 20, 1773, to David Brooks, who grad. M. A. at
Yale in 1765. He was b. in 1744, s. of Enos and Tamar (Woos-
ter) B., gr. son of Thomas and gt. gr. s. of Henry from Cheshire,
Eng., who came to New Haven abt. 1676. David and Elizabeth
res. in the old Brooks homestead in Cheshire, Ct. After grad.
from college David was ordained to the work of the ministry, oc-
casionally preached, but never was a settled pastor. He was a
delegate to the state convention held in Hartford in Jan., 1788,
to ratify and adopt the constitution of the United States. He was
a soldier in the Revol. ; enlisted as a private ; afterwards promoted
to quartermaster of the reg't. In Revol. times he occasionally
preached with his musket on his back. He prepared and delivered
in Derby, Ct., in 1774, a discourse on The Religion of the Revol.
This discourse was highly commended and strongly influenced
public opinion in favor of the cause of the struggling colonies,, It

3^ THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

was published by his s. Micah of Brooks Grove, N. Y., and copies
of it are preserved. Their family became quite an influential one.
David sr. d. Dec. 22, 1801, a. 57.

CHILDREN.

719. i. Clarissa Brooks b. Peb. 22, 1774; m. Col. Asher Sax-

ton and d. in 1808, leaving 2 ch.: Asher B. and
Clarissa.

720. ii. Micah Brooks b. May 14, 1775; was a general; m.

Mary dau. of Dea. Abel Hall, of Lynn, Ct., Dec. 13,
1802. She d. Mar. 26, 1825, a. 43. Ch. : Lorenzo H.,
Marcia, Catharine P., Clarissa, Laura Ann, Cor-
nelia, Micah W.

721. iii. David Brooks b. Oct. 8, 1776; d. Jan. 21, 1782.

722. iv. Elizabeth Brooks b. Dec. 7, 1777; m. Sam. Peck, of

Prospect; had 4 ch.

723. V. Benedict Brooks b. Mar. g, 1779; m. Maria dau. of

Judge McNair. Ch. : Elizabeth A., Phebe A., Hugh
F., Martha, Henrietta, Grace, Grace 2d, Alice C.

724. \i. Laura Brooks b. Apr. i, 1781 ; m. Henry Vosburg.

725. vii. Charity Brooks b. Oct. 22, 1782; m. Isaac Curtis.

726. viii. Mary Brooks twin b. July 25, 1785 ; m. Henry Hubbard.

727. ix. Martha Brooks twin d. y.

728. X. David Brooks b. July 26, 1791 ; m. Linda dau. of Sam.

and Abigail (Doolittle) Hull (659), of Cheshire,
and res. on the ancestral est. in C. She d. a. 69.
Ch. : Alonzo, Clarissa L., Abigail A., David (be-
came a celebrated electrician, d. 1891), Stella L.,
Sam. H., Elizabeth L., Edwin M., Rozena.

291.

Capt-Brra Doolittle (Daniel, Daniel, Abraham) s. of Daniel
and Elizabeth (Dayton) D. of North Haven, was b. June 3, 1752.
He m. Jan. 18, 1775 Sarah, dau. of John and Sarah Moss of W.
(spelled Morse on W. records). Feb. 27, 1775, Ezra and Sarah
for £40 deed to their mother, Sarah Moss, the share in the old
horrrestead rec'd from their father, John Moss, late of W. This
ihzTt compiiegid "hali of the TiDtth room of the upright part tif

THE DOOLITTLB FAMILY. *tS

the house taking the west part and also the half of the chamber
over said room, taking the west part and also the south garret,
and also the cellar under the south end of the lenter, and under
the west part of the south room of the house to extend to the midr
die of the chimney ; with liberty of passing and repassing" also
rights in house lot and things on the place.

Ezra was admit, to Cong. Church in C. Sept. 14, 1777- He
was a captain. They set. on a farm in the north-west part of
Cheshire, Ct., which a few years ago was owned by his s. Levi.
He was among the grand jurors at C. in 1786. He d. suddenly
at C. Monday, Apr. 5, 1830, a. 78. His wid. d. Aug. i, 1847, ^•
gi. On their gravestone in the old cemetery at C. is, "Remember
now thy Creator in the days of thy youth," etc. The old home-
stead was on the road running east of Perry Langdon's at C about
J4 mile west of Leonard Doolittle's (s. of 736). In 1777 he was
sarg't of Capt. Miles Johnson's Co. in a reg't of Conn, militia
under Col. Hooker Apr. i to May 22d.

CHILDREN.

729. i. Ezra b. May 8, 1776, d. y.

73a ii. Sarah Thompson b. Aug. 27, 1778, d. y.

731. iii. Ezra b. at C. Aug. 8, 1780.

732. iv. Sarah Moss b. at C. July 22, 1782; m. Benj. Dowd Doo-

little (s. of 360).

733. V. Elizabeth Ann b. Oct. 5, 1784; m. Lent Benhtam.at C.

Apr. 7, 1802; settled in Hartland, Ct.
Ldy b. Oct. 27, 1786.
Leonard b. Feb. 2, 1789.
Levi b. May 27, 1792.
Eunice b. July 23, 1795.
Martha b. Apr. 10, 1800. . > i-Tlj

734-

Vi.

735:

vii.

736.

viii.

737-

ix.

738.

X,

2l6 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

293.

Capt. Ichabod Doolittle (Joseph, Daniel, Abraham) s. of
Joseph and Rachel (Coles) D. of W., was b. Aug. 21, 1731. He
m. at Wilton, Ct., Nov. 18, 1756, Debroch Birchard and raised a
family. Ichabod was a grantee at Moretown, N. H., July 7, 1763.
In Apr., 1775, when Abraham Gray resigned, Ichabod Doolittle
was appt. Capt. of the 7th Comp. 5th Conn, reg't, of which David
Waterbury was colonel ; was in service at Stillwater in Oct., 1777.
Officers under Capt. Ichabod were: ist Lieut., Albert Chapman;
2d Lieut., Thaddeus Rockwell; Ensign, Ebenezer Banks. Icha-
bod was of Ridgebury, Ct., and served from Mar. ist till his hon-
orable discharge, Nov. 4, 1775, on account of much sickness
among the troops. See No. 106 for his reg't service. He res.
later at South East, Dutchess Co., N. Y.

CHILDREN (possibly OTHERS.)

739. i. Ichabod M.

740. ii. Phineas prob., who m. Mar. 7, 1782, Sarah dau. of

Lieut. Samuel Benedict at Ridgefield, Conn.

296.

Lieut. Joseph Doolittle (Joseph, Daniel, Abraham) s. of
Joseph and Rachel (Coles) D., was b. at W. Jan, 21, 1738. He
m. at Ridgefield, Conn., Aug. 10, 1757, Abigail Rockwell, who
was b; at R. Jan. 4, 1741. She was dau. of David and Elizabeth
(Hyatt) R. Joseph was Lieut, in Col. Crane's reg't (N. Y.
troops) in the Revol. army. His sons Reuben, Hopkins, Daniel
and prob. Joseph also served in the same reg't as privates under
Capt. Truesdell, and all were from Westchester county. Reuben

741.

742.

ii.

743.

iii.

744.

iv.

745.

V.

746.

vi.

747.

vii.

748.

viii

749.

ix.

750.

X.

751.

xi.

752.

xii.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 217

was a corporal. It is said that Reuben and 3 of his bros. drifted
away from the rest of the children at the time of the Revol. Some
were afterwards traced by his son Henry and their descendants
found in Ohio and farther west.

CHILDREN.

Reuben b. at Ridgefield Apr. 19, 1761.

Hopkins b. Feb. 22, 1764.

Daniel.

Joseph.

Jonathan b. 1770; d. 1845; poss. lived near Milford, Pa.

Stephen res. at Montague, N. J.

Ebenezer.

Sarah m. Joseph Chase.

Rachel m. Travis.

Esther m. Bryant; res. near Fishkill, N. Y.

Phebe was m. twice.

Dorcas m. (i) Geo. Brink, res. near Rochester, N. Y. ;

m. (2) Hon. Jos. Blackmer, of Wheatland, N. Y.

She d. 1848.

304.
Samuel DooIittIe( Henry, Theophilus, Abraham) s. of Henry

and ( ) D. was b. in Conn., where he m. and

res. He d. there about 1770.

CHILDREN.

753. i. Joel b. in 1753.

754. ii. Thomas poss. who enlisted with Joel in the Revol. in

1777, the former served 8 mo. May 2T, '77, to Jan. 12,
'78, under Capt. Belcher.

306.

Susannah DooIJttle (Theophilus, Theophilus, Abraham) dau.
of Theophilus and Sarah (Dorchester) D., was b. at W. Sept. 2,

22^ THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

1739; m. to Sara'l Peck at W. Dec. 10, 1760. They res. at W.
where he d. Sept. 28, 181 5. He was bro. of John (98) and s. of
Samuel and Mary Peck, b. Jan. 4, 1734, Susannah d. at W. July
3, 1812, a. 72.

311^

Capt. Solomon Doonttle(Theophilus, Theophilus, Abraham)
s. of Ensign Theophilus and Sarah (Dorchester) D., was b. at
W. Mar. 24, 1746. He m. i] Feb. 24, 1768, Eunice Hull and set.
at W. The following were in Capt. Stanley's comp. of Col.
Thaddeus' regt. at W. Aug. 13, 1779: Lieut. Solomon Doolittle,
Corp. Isaac Doolittle, and privates, Joseph, jr., John and Oliver
Doolittle. See Nos. 315, 196, 289, 287. Solomon m. 2] Thank-
ful (dau. of Ambrose) Doolittle (372) at C. Apr. 5, 1797. Mar.
16, 1797, Eliakin Hall of W. deeds a house and barn with 24 acres
in W. to Capt. Solomon and Thankful Doolittle. Dec. 28, 1798,
Eunice Doolittle of W. deeds to her father Solomon 25 acres in
W. Apr. 23, 1799, Thankful, wf. of Capt. Solomon Doolittle,
buys a parcel of land in W.

CHILDREN.

Theophilus b. Mar. 19, 1769.

Sarah b. Feb. 5, 1772; m. at W. Nov. 26, 1799, Samuel
Davidson.

Eunice b. Feb. 12, 1774.

Solomon b. Apr. 5, 1775.

Lucy b. July 18, 1778.

Joel b. Sept. 16, 1781. He prob. m. Jan. 17, 1814, Polly
Foote b. May 17, 1780, dau. of Dan. and Mary
(Ingraham) F. Joel was of W. They had no ch.
He d. and she m. (2) Russell Hill, of North Guil-
ford later of E. Haven, Ct., where she d.
761. vii. Mary b. May 21, 1786.

755-
756.

i.

757.

758.

iii.
iv.

759.
760.

V.

vi.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 21 Q

312.

Isaiah Doolittle (Theophilus, Theophilus, Abraham) s. of
Ensign Theophilus and Sarah (Dorchester) D. was b. at W. July
I J, 1748. He m. Damarus of W., where they settled.

CHILDREN.

762. i. Josiah b. July 17, 1769; d. July 30, sm. yr.

763. ii. Stephen b. ]\Iar. 24, 1771.

764. iii. Eunice Hall b. Sept. 19, 1772.

765. iv. Lyman b. Oct. 27, 1774.

313-

Eliasaph Doolittle (Theophilus, Theophilus, Abraham) s. of
Ensign Theophilus and Sarah (Dorchester) D., was b. at W.
June I, 1750. He m. i] Ruth Hall at W. Jan. i, 1772, and set-
tled at W. He d. Apr. 28, 181 7, a. 67, possibly at Plymouth, Ct.
Only the first two ch. were b. at W. He m. 2] Mabel Potter Apr.
8, 1776, recorded at Watertown, Ct., as well as ch. Nos. 3, 7, 8,
and 9.

CHILDREN.

Lucy b. Oct. 31, 1772.
Charles b. Nov. 25, 1775.
Miles b. Feb. 16, 1777.
Ruth b. May 12, 1778.
Isaiah b. Sept. 26, 1779.
Eliasaph b. Mar. 7, 1782.

Potter b. July 10, 1784. He was one of those who set-
tled in the northeast part of Westmoreland in
Oneida Co., N. Y., early in the 19th century.
Sally b. Mar. 20, 1786.
Amzi b. Feb. 21, 1788.
775. X. Giles b. May :22, I794-
•776. Tci. Betsey b. Dec. 4, 1798.

766.
767.

ii.

768.

iii.

769.

iv.

770.

V.

in-

vi.

772.

vii.

773-

viii.

774-

ix.

220 THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

315.

Isaac Doolittle (Theophilus, Theophilus, Abraham) s. of
Ensign Theophilus and Sarah (Dorchester) D., was b. Aug. 27,
1754. He was a corporal in the Revol. See No. 311. In 1777*
he rec'd from his father 2 acres in W. and also in 1779 half the
homestead at W., comprising 14 acres with half of the buildings
on same. In 1782 Isaac deeds 3 acres in Southfields (so called)
at W. and later sm. yr. deeds 9 acres in same locality "near land
of Daniel Doolittle (74) and the heirs of Stephen Doolittle (76)
deceased." In 1874 he deeds 2 acres of meadow land in south
fields to Caleb Atwater. It was bounded south by the river and
partly by the lands of Joseph Doolittle (75) of New Haven — it
being land he rec'd from his father Theophilus. In 1785 Isaac
deeds more land in W. a little south of the former home of his
father Ensign Theophilus Doolittle deceased. In 1786 Isaac
Doolittle of W. deeds the last of his lands, formerly owned by his
father, to Jared Potter of W.

In 1794 Isaac s. of Ensign Theophilus Doolittle deeds half
a dwelling in W. He prob. m. at C. July 24, 1783, Susanna
Barnes.

316.

David Doolittle (Solomon, Theophilus, Abraham) s. of Solo-
mon and Jerusha (Tyler) D. was b. Oct. 4, 1736, at W. He m.
Apr. 17, 1764, Taphatha, b. Aug. 7, 1740, dau. of Ebenezer and
Lydia (Warner) Doolittle (239). They sett, at W., but after a
few yrs. rem. to Torrington, Ct. These people had an odd insti-
tution called a Sabbath Day house. They were small huts built

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 221

near the church by those who came from a distance. They had a
fire place and furnished heat and shelter for the family on Sunday
while they ate their lunches and waited between morning and
afternoon services, for the church was cold in winter.

David enlisted in Revel. July 12, '75, in 8th Co. under Capt.
Wm, Hubbell of 7th reg't under Col. Charles Webb; was sta-
tioned along the sound until Sept., when at Washington's request
it went to Boston camp and was assigned to Winter Hill, Gen.
Sullivan's brigade. He was hon. disc. Dec. 19, '75. David
served Sept. 15-Dec. 25, '76, in Capt. Johnson's Co. of Col. Brad-
ley's battalion raised for defense of the state; was at Bergen
Heights and Jersey City. In Oct. moved up toward Ft. Lee under
Gen. Green. Many were captured in defending Ft. Washington,
Nov. 16, '"jd. David again enlisted June 12, 'yy, for 8 mo. under
Capt. Munson in 8th reg't, Col. John Chandler ; camped at Peeks-
kill till ordered to help Washington in Pa. in Sept.; under Gen.
McDougall at battle of Germantown, Oct. i. In winter quarters
at Valley Forge.

CHILDREN.

777. i. Sarah b. Aug. 22, 1765, at W.

778. ii. Eli b. July 15, \7n, at Torington.

779. iii. Lydia b. July 23, 1775, at Torington.

780. iv. David b. Oct. 3, 1777, at Torington.

321.

Titus Doolittle (Benjamin, Theophilus, Abraham), s. of
Benjamin and Esther (Tuttle) D., was b. June 8, 1749. He m.
Nabbie Mallory. They res. prob. at Mt. Carmel Centre, Ct. He
d. prob. in the winter of 1837. His wf. d. some years before. All
their descendants except son Titus left Conn.

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY.

CHILDREN.

781.

78i?.

783.

iii.

Abbie m. (i) Benjamin Franklin; m. (2) Church.

Benjamin.

Polly twin m. (i) Cooper; m. (2) Jonathan Rum-

sey after the death of her sis. Sally and res. in

Trumansburg, N. Y.
.784. iv. Sally twin m. Jonathan Rumsey. She d. and he m. (2)

her sis. Polly.

785. V. Lola m. James Charles.

786. vi. Patty m. Thomas Lewis res. in N. Y. State.

787. vii. Betsey m. Thomas Plaice; res. in Canada.

788. viii. Electa m. Roberts.

789. ix. Titus res. in Mt. Carmel, Ct.

•: . 322.

Elizabeth DooUttIe( Benjamin, Theophilus, Abraham), dau.
of Benjamin and Esther (Tuttle) D., was b. Aug. i, 1752, d.
Dbc. 20, 1843, a- 91- She m. Phineas C, s. of Phineas Peck, who
d.'Allg. 15, 1809. He was b. Jan. 9, 1756. They res. in that part
of W. now Prospect.

■•'■■:'•■ CHILDREN.

790. i. Benjamin Peck b. in 1776.

791. ii. Samuel Peck b. in 1780; d. in Green, N. Y., in i860.

He m. — — . Ch. : Horace, Clarissa, Daniel,

Samuel S., Asahel P., Philo N., Levi H., Betsey M.

792. iii. Nathaniel Peck b. 1784; res. Camden, Ind. ; m.

. Ch. : Elizabeth, Joseph F., John C, Geo. W.

793. iv. Esther Peck b. 1787; m. Hough. He d. and she

res. Middletown, Ct.

794. V. Elizabeth Peck b. 1790; d. 1864 unm.

324.

'■'■ Benjamin Doolittle( Benjamin, Theophilus, Abraham), s. of
Be?njamin and Esther (Tuttle) D., of Mt. Carmel, Ct. Benjamin
Doblittle, Jr., and Samuel Doolittle were of the Waterbury Land
Go. and bought the township of Columbia in Lorain County, Ohio,
Apr. 4, 1807. Benj. paid $1,592.00 and Sam'l $80.00. Some of

THE DOOLITTLE FAMILY. 223

the company set, in Euclid, O. It is prob. that these two bros.
never came to Ohio, but sett, in the south and their numerous
descendants still res. there. I believe Benjamin m. at Edgefield
Court House, S. C, res. there and raised the following ch., the
a St of whom d. about 4 yrs. ago ae. 91 yrs.

CHILDREN.

795-

Edward R.

796.

ii.

William.

797-

iii.

Jack.

798.

iv.

Esther (called Hetty).

328

Samuel Doolittle (Benjamin, Theophilus, Abraham) s. of
Benjamin and Esther (Tuttle) D., of Mt. Carmel, Ct. (see 324).
He prob. sett, at Edgefield Court House, S. C. and m. there
None of their ch. are now living.

CHILDREN.

799-

Rodger Williams.

800.

ii.

Samuel M.

801.

iii.

Sterling.

802.

iv.

Lucinda m. Stringer.

803.

V.

Elizabeth m. Bouchillon.

(end of part ii).
September, 1902.

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